Jan. 10, 2025
By Farah Afifi
Staff Writer
Animal Welfare Club members got the chance to interact with a special furry guest at last month’s meeting. On Dec. 16, choir director Ms. Wise brought her three-year-old Maltipoo, Teddy, to teach the nine members in attendance about the role of therapy dogs and to see one in action.
Teddy is one of four therapy dogs in the school district. When he was a year old, he began a 10-month training program that took place weekly at Lyndhurst Middle School and was paid for by the district.
“We worked on different skills every week and there was periodic testing of the dogs with the trainers,” Wise said. “By the end of [the program], they had to take a big test of doing all the commands, all the things they learned, checking for the demeanor with people and how they reacted to other dogs. Once they passed their test, they became certified therapy dogs.”
“He listen[s] to instructions properly, he knows what to do and he is very friendly.”
Wise said she loved witnessing the students’ joy when they saw Teddy at the meeting.
“My favorite part was being able to tell him to go say ‘hello’ to everybody and go up to each person,” Wise said. “[It is rewarding] watching the smiles on people’s faces and seeing them kind of forget whatever is going on in their lives,” Wise said.
Animal Welfare Club co-advisor Miss Rendzia said there is an important distinction between therapy dogs and emotional support animals.
“A therapy dog is specifically trained to provide comfort and support to multiple people, such as in hospitals or schools, and undergoes rigorous training to interact calmly in various settings,” Rendzia said. “An emotional support animal provides comfort to its owner without requiring specialized training, relying instead on its bond with the individual.”
Rendzia said therapy dogs contribute to students’ well-being.
“Having a dog there, somebody who can greet you, put a smile on your face and [be] pet will help those with anxiety and social issues because sometimes it’s easier to spend time with an animal than with a person,” Rendzia said.
She said interacting with therapy pets benefits both mental and physical health. She said just petting an animal or having an animal present can reduce a person’s blood pressure and extend their life.
Rendzia said therapy dogs will continue to be part of the Animal Welfare Club’s programming, as English teacher Mrs. Ruiz’s two-year-old mini Australian Shepherd, Roxie, is scheduled to attend the club’s meeting in February.
“I would love to see the therapy pets in school on a permanent basis or a semi-permanent basis,” Rendzia said. “They bring a sense of happiness and calmness to people.”
Sophomore Arshia Rahman, who joined the Animal Welfare Club last year, said she was surprised that Teddy was calm and did not bark.
“He listen[s] to instructions properly, he knows what to do and he is very friendly,” Rahman said.
She said she looks forward to having another therapy dog at an upcoming club meeting.
“It’s really fun to interact with them. I think it could help a lot of LHS students in the future with stress, and it just provides support,” Rahman said.
She said she wishes more people knew about therapy pets.
“It is a way for them to seek help. It is also a way for them to overcome their emotional obstacles,” said Rahman.
