Therapy dogs have proven to be a valuable resource for emotional support towards both students and staff in schools, and DPHS is no different.
Maggie, an English Cream, has walked through the halls for seven years. Mrs. Coulombe, Maggie’s owner and teacher’s aide at DPHS, was more than happy to answer some questions for the Crimson Aviator.
Q: How often do you bring in Maggie?
A: “I like to at least bring her in once a week. I think it’s good for the students, especially when they know I’m bringing her in. I try to bring her in on Fridays. It depends if there’s a Small Animal Care class and they’re doing a lesson where she could be a volunteer for demonstrations.”
Q: How long has she been certified as a therapy dog?
A: “Maggie is 7 years old, she’s been certified since she was officially a year old.”
Q: What made you decide to get Maggie certified?
A: “I’ve been at the high school for years, and I brought my previous dog here. After seeing the calming effect she had on the students, I decided to find a dog that I could train to be a therapy dog, so after doing my homework and adopting Maggie as a puppy, I knew she was the one. The more I brought her to school, it hit me just how much animals can leave an impact on others.”
Q: What was one of the biggest successes you’ve seen with bringing in Maggie?
A: “Just seeing the amount of joy [Maggie] brings to the students makes my entire day. Maggie comes from a long line of therapy dogs and being able to continue that makes everything worth it.”
To keep up with Maggie and her brother Wally, you can follow their Instagram!
@maggieandwally
