Therapy dogs could be an important stress reliever in the school system

As school gets harder and harder therapy dogs seem to be an important solution to growing anxiety and stress. High school work loads, and teenage life at home cause students stress and are leading to physical and mental issues.

Therapy dogs are proven to relieve the stress of not only school but at home life. Christine Grove, an educational therapist states, “Research shows therapy dogs can reduce stress physiologically (cortisol levels) and increase attachment responses that trigger oxytocin – a hormone that increases trust in humans.”

Junior Jack Larrance states, “I think therapy dogs one day every week would help relieve the stress and anxiety of Aurora high school students” Bringing therapy dogs to school once a week with visiting hours at lunch, or after and before school can improve the overall health of students.

Grove states therapy dogs provides, “Positive changes towards learning and improved motivation, and enhanced relationships with peers and teachers due to experiencing trust and unconditional love from a therapy dog. This in turn helps students learn how to express their feelings and enter into more trusting relationships.”

Investing students into positive and healthy relationships can help solve depression, anxiety, and stress levels throughout the school.

Senior Lexi Price states, “Therapy dogs could be a beneficial addition to our school, I know my dogs at times help me feel comforted in times of distress.”

A typical week of school can be filled with tests, large homework loads, and even teenage drama. The introduction of therapy dogs would help decrease the stress of the school week, and keep students with high mental health.

Senior Grace Tutkovics states, “During recess at Harmon sometimes they would have

therapy dogs, after I saw them, my whole day was made.”

Therapy dogs introduced to the student body in the past have made a positive impact on the community, and decreased stress levels even in middle school.

Overall, therapy dog programs are a cheap and inexpensive way to increase the mental health of students, provide social and emotional support in a stressful work week, and increase motivation for learning resulting in an improved student community.