dogs
CRUSADER
Healing Hounds
Partnership with therapy dogs helps Wayne students unwind WRITTENBYPHILIPDEVENCENTIS PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL KARAS
Hana knows that the easiest way to acquire close friends is to stand still and look pretty . They will come toyou .
“ Her size isn ’ tintimidating ,” Susan Chandler says , attempting to make sense ofHana ’ spopularity . “ She ’ s short , kind of like adachshund .”
Actually , Hana is a7-year-old Skye Terrier — abreed sorare that it is regarded as an endangered species . At Wayne Valley High School , she is cherished almost as if she were the last dog that ever lived . “ She ’ s a rock star ,” says Chandler , the pooch ’ s proud owner . “ I ’ m just atthe other end of the leash .”
Hana is among several therapy dogs brought to the high school as part of aprogram conducted in partnership with The Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs , Inc ., anonprofit in Morris Plains . Students sit with the dogs during their lunch hour to mellow out and unwind in the middle of their otherwise hectic schedules .
School officials were impressed by the response to the program , so
they decided this year to expand it to two mornings per month . William Cheval Jr ., a guidance counselor who oversees the program , says there is still room for more growth . “ It helps students to forget about challenges and concerns that they ’ re facing , even for a brief moment ,” he says . “ And there ’ s no reaction by the dogs . They just want to provide love .”
“ WHO DOESN ’ T LIKE SEEING ADOG WHEN THEY WALK INTO SCHOOL ?”
MATTHEW KRILEY PRINCIPAL , LAFAYETTE SCHOOL
Bright & Beautiful does not require formal training for the dogs , but each must pass a test to be certified . The test evaluates behavior and temperament based on certain triggers . For example , evaluators may shout at each other to simulate an argument . Or , an evaluator may sit in awheelchair and gently pet adog .
On arecent morning , the high school hosted seven pairs of certified dogs and their volunteer handlers in the gym . Students poured in and out in bunches .
Gabriel Santana , afreshman , says he enjoyed being able to “ chill out ” with the canines .
Sophomore Emma Wolfelsperger says quality time with the four-legged visitors can do wonders for her mind . “ It helps metofocus later ,” she says . “ It gives me abreak to just calm down , relax and not worry about school .”
Linda DeYoung , another handler , is aregular guest atWayne Valley with Gavin , an8-year-old Sheltie . She helped to start the program there in the 2018-2019 school year with Crystal Olson , aguidance counselor who is now working at Ryerson School . “ The average person is going to think that you ’ re alittle weird if
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@ waynemagazine WAYNE MAGAZINE MAY 2022
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