Schools today are redefining education. Not so long ago, we could only wish to bring our pet dogs to school. Aside from show-and-tell, animals weren’t allowed on school premises. However, you’ll find that many schools are now seeing the value of animal therapy and are integrating animals into their schools.
In Portland, Franklin High School has an unusual yet adorable member of the staff. A Labradoodle named Archie goes to the high school with his owner, Dana Miller, who’s also a French teacher at the school. Ever since he started going to school, he became one of the most beloved and valued staff members.
At first, Dana got Archie as a family pet. However, Dana realized that Archie was too adorable and too friendly not to share. Archie is just the type of dog that people are drawn into and she had a great idea that can benefit the school and its students.
When Archie was around two years old, Dana got him trained to become a therapy dog. Dana saw Archie’s potential when he approached a woman in a wheelchair while she was taking him out on a walk. Archie just went up to the woman and laid his head on her lap, which just made Dana’s heart melt.
After his training, Archie became a certified therapy dog. He specializes in animal-assisted interactions and helps students with anxiety relax. Archie started work casually and was only in school when he was needed. However, after the school realized his potential in helping students deal with anxiety, he quickly became a regular at the school.
Now, Archie has a staff ID badge and a daily schedule to help students in need. He even has a place on the yearbook. He loves interacting with the students and the smiles he brings to everyone around him are priceless. It’s safe to say that Archie would be the student’s favorite among the staff members at Franklin High School. Here’s a video featuring Archie and the work he does in Franklin High School to help students gain confidence and deal with anxiety.
Video Source The Oregonian via YouTube