Imagine sitting in class, foot tapping and breath shaking due to nerves towards an upcoming test. Think about how you feel on some of your worst days, undergoing the weight of stress and emotional hurt. Then picture a furry, fluffy friend coming to you and cuddling up until a smile grows from ear to ear on your face. Dogs have the ability to heal the world, so let’s permit them to do so.
As mental health becomes a more prevalent topic in teens, having an accessible resource at the school would benefit both students and staff. The science of touch is a subject commonly discussed in the world of emotional support dogs (ESD). Simply undergoing the motions of giving a hug or petting a dog can release tension in much easier ways than expressing words.
While many people think having a conversation about their feelings in the moment is crucial, for some there is a large amount of discomfort found in this act. Students might be hesitant to reach out for help from another human, as it evokes some feelings of social anxiety.
According to John Hopkins Medical research, the mere petting of a dog lowers levels of our stress hormone called cortisol. Correspondingly, the actual interaction between a dog and a human increases levels of oxytocin, a hormone that stimulates bonding and relationships. Having an ESD at the high school would assist people in their battle with mental health issues and aid their journey to creating meaningful relationships. The goal is to not only brighten every student’s day, but also give comfort to those who suffer from serious anxiety and lack of motivation. When schools have an ESD, students and staff have the opportunity to have quick check-ins with the dog with no requirement to have any conversation or spend a great deal of time stopped.
Neighboring high schools such as Plainwell and Comstock Park have taken notice of students’ issues with mental health and implemented an ESD in their school. Down the road from the high school, at Crossroads Middle School, there is an ESD named Moxie that stays in counselor Linsday Haveman’s room and provides comfort to students dealing with anxiety, depression and feelings of loneliness during the school day. If ESD’s have been successful at surrounding districts and schools, they will surely have a positive impact at the high school.
“Moxie has been such a gift to Crossroads. In the short time that we have had Moxie with us in the building, Moxie has truly developed relationships with a countless number of people,” Haveman said. “Whether it be inside of the classroom, in the hallway on her designated benches or inside my office – I have seen Moxie help students who are crying take a deep breath and calm down simply by walking over to them and placing her head on their lap.”
When schools have an ESD, students and staff have the opportunity to have quick check-ins with the dog with no requirement to have any conversation or spend a great deal of time stopped. Finance teacher at the high school, Angela Lewis, brings her three-year-old GoldenDoodle, Remington, to school every so often. This gives students an opportunity to take a moment and just appreciate the loving animal beside them.
“He brings lots of smiles to both my students and kids in the hall,” Lewis said. “He’s been with me on test days, and that brings peace [to them].”
Having an emotional support dog would have a lot of benefits on any given day, but more so than ever on test days. With the high pressure of standardized testing, students like myself find a lot of difficulty focusing and grounding oneself before a test. Having an ESD at the high school would take away a lot of the unwarranted strain on kids and young adults struggling with their experiences at school.
With all of this said, one of the biggest deciding factors of anything new implemented in schools is cost. The initial cost of an ESD is expensive due to preliminary training, vaccinations and the overall cost of buying, homing and feeding a dog. However, the benefits 0f the dog far outweigh the negatives of the high cost. Students interested in welcoming an ESD into our district could set up a fundraiser and use the donated money towards funds to pay for the dog, training and other finances. There are many opportunities around the school to raise money and also awareness for mental health resources. Advocates for an ESD could host a trivia night about mental health with donations and admission costs, do an easy online fundraiser or a 5K run where everyone can bring their pets.
Paws with a cause is an organization that trains dogs to help in large groups of people such as schools, hospitals, and other big organizations. The high school could use this program to ensure the dog will be trained properly and prepared to be in a busy setting.
The district has permitted an emotional support dog at one school and the results have been monumental, so I believe it is time to spread the love and implement a furry friend for us here at the high school. Dogs don’t judge based on social circumstances, grades, financial status or anything else personal. They are there to help and support, which is exactly what struggling students need.
Pets provide relief in stressful situations, help people feel less lonely and are a bright light during dark days. It is time to recognize the good that emotional support animals can do for students and faculty, then act upon it and give people more accessible and enjoyable mental health resources.
