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Grain Valley North Middle School

Every Student. Every Day.

PAWS Program: Meet Millie the Therapy Dog

Students sit with Millie the Therapy dog in class on the floor while reading.
A student sits in a chair with Millie the therapy dog sitting in her lap.
Students sit at their desk reading while petting Millie the therapy dog.
Students sit at their desk reading while petting Millie the therapy dog.

Partnering with Animals in Schools (PAWS)

What is a Therapy Dog? 

A therapy dog is a specially trained and certified dog that provides comfort, emotional support, and companionship in various settings, including schools. Unlike service dogs, which perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities, therapy dogs offer general emotional and social support to a broader group of people.

In a school setting, therapy dogs help students regulate their emotions, improve social skills, and engage more effectively in learning. All therapy dogs in the Grain Valley Schools’ School Therapy Dog Program must meet specific behavioral and training criteria to ensure they are well-suited for interaction with students and staff.

Bright Futures Grain Valley Logo

Millie the school therapy dog. Meet Millie! 

Millie is a whoodle (Wheaten Terrier/Poodle) and serves the North Middle School students and staff. 

When not working with students, Millie enjoys spending her time in the hallway as the students are coming in and greeting them as they start their day! Millie travels around classrooms to spend time with students during their reading and work time. Millie also supports students by going on walks in the school as they work through tough situations. 

Grain Valley Schools PAWS Program

Emotional and Psychological Benefits 

  • Therapy dogs help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression among students.
  • They promote emotional regulation, helping students manage frustration, anger, or sadness.
  • The presence of a therapy dog can increase oxytocin (the "bonding hormone") while decreasing cortisol (the "stress hormone"), creating a calming effect in students.

Social and Behavioral Improvements

  • Therapy dogs help students build connections with peers, teachers, and other school staff.
  • They can reduce behavioral issues by encouraging empathy, patience, and respect.
  • Structured interactions with therapy dogs can support students with social difficulties, including those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or emotional disabilities (ED).

Academic Engagement and Motivation

  • Students may feel more comfortable and motivated to engage in schoolwork with a therapy dog present.
  • Reading programs with therapy dogs encourage reluctant readers to practice literacy skills in a non-judgmental setting.
  • Therapy dogs can be used as an incentive for academic participation and positive behavior reinforcement.

<h2>Trauma-Informed &amp; Brain-Based Learning Connections</h2>

<ul>
    <li>Students with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) or trauma histories benefit from predictable, calming interactions with therapy dogs.</li>
    <li>Therapy dogs help regulate the nervous system, supporting students in transitioning from heightened emotional states to a more focused and engaged mindset.</li>
    <li>Emotional safety is critical for learning; therapy dogs help create a school environment where students feel valued and supported.</li>
</ul>