Grace, a Therapy Dog Visits Finley Students

Students at J. Taylor Finley Middle School love animals. They especially care for therapy dogs, which are always popular visitors around the building.

“Grace, a nine-month-old therapy puppy full of energy, brought smiles and excitement to Finley this week alongside her handler, ‘Mr. Gary,’” Dean of Students Amanda Shaffer said. “While she loved greeting students with her playful spirit, she also showed her gentle side, offering comfort and calm moments throughout the day. Their visit filled the building with wagging tails, happy faces, and lots of joy.”

“Visits by therapy dogs to educational settings have been associated by researchers with many benefits,” according to Ohio State University’s College of Education and Human Ecology. “These include improvements in children’s behavior, reduced anxiety, increased self-esteem, enhanced motivation and overall well-being. Those improvements in turn can facilitate learning and contribute to gains in learning outcomes, such as reading.”

Finley Principal Traci Roethel is a strong proponent of therapy dogs in schools, especially the building she leads.

“Formal therapy dog work dates back to use in hospitals in the 1970s, but it has become more prevalent in recent decades, especially in educational settings,” according to Education Week. “And as more academic research emerges on the benefits of the human-animal bond, schools are working with canine companions in more sophisticated ways.”

Energy and excitement fills Finley, whenever a therapy dog arrives for the day. It’s important that people understand the difference between a therapy dog and a service dog.

“Therapy dogs are trained to provide support in a community environment,” states Education Week. “They differ from service dogs, which are trained to assist individuals with specific tasks related to physical disabilities.”