• Therapy animals enhance human health and well-being

    Therapy animals can postively impact our physical, social and emotional lives.  Whether helping to encourage struggling readers, motivating someone to participate in groups, or providing comfort to someone who is upset, therapy animals are increasingly recognized for their value.

     

    Benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy     

    • -Builds positive self-esteem

    • -Reduces stress-inducing hormones and raises happiness hormones within the body           

    • -Provides non-judgmental, selfless love and attention

    • -Can enhance cognitive development        

    • -Can promote more prosocial behaviors in children        

    • -Helps decrease feelings of loneliness and isolation         

    • -Increases social and verbal interactions in children

    • -Aides in decreasing anger, anxiety, and depression

    Mill Street Welcomes Bindi

    Bindi

     

    We are continuing our PAWsitive Support with Bindi again this year!  Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is more than just playing with a pet. AAT is goal-directed: there is a specific end in mind such as improving social skills or encouraging positive behavior choices.  Students may be in contact with a certified therapy dog throughout the school year under the supervision of Janet Townsend, MSE School Counselor. Bindi, the pet therapy dog, has a Good Canine Citizen certification and is a registered therapy dog with Pet Partners.

     

    Therapy dogs provide many benefits.  They help children learn compassion, empathy, responsibility, respect, and self-discipline.  Trained therapy dogs offer comfort and non-judgmental love with studies to prove that even a short time with a dog can decrease levels of anxiety and increase emotional security.

     

    Your child must have a permission slip on file in order to participate with or be in contact the therapy dog at Mill Street. If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to contact me by phone or email.

     

    Sincerely,

    Janet Townsend

    School Counselor

    972-219-6415

    townsendj@lisd.net