Have you been considering having an animal become part of your school counseling program?
Having my dog Boss with me at my school was one of the best experiences of my career. I have become passionate about using animals to support our work.
With that in mind here are a few things to get you started:
Watch me and learn more
This short PD has information on different types of support animals, considerations, and tips on getting started.
It’s important to understand the different types of supports animals provide.
Connect with a local organization
Here are some resources to help get you started. It’s important to connect with a local organization to help provide training and support. You should also check with your local school board about requirements and regulations.
“Pet Partners is the national leader in demonstrating and promoting the health and wellness benefits of animal-assisted therapy, activities, and education. With thousands of registered teams making more than 3 million visits annually, Pet Partners serves as the nation’s most diverse and respected nonprofit registering handlers of multiple species as volunteer teams. “- Pet Partners
UTK H.A.B.I.T:
“HABIT is a community group of volunteers working together to explore the circumstances and consequences of the human-animal bond and to promote this valuable bond between people and animals. HABIT is comprised of representatives from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, volunteers from the community, and private veterinary practitioners.”- HABIT
Learn more at: UTK H.A.B.I.T.
“ATD provides testing, certification, registration, support, and insurance for members who volunteer with dogs to visit hospitals, special needs centers, schools, nursing homes, and other facilities.”
A great resource for you and your dog, if you are looking to become a certified therapy team or your facility, would like to start a therapy dog program.”- ATD
Learn more here: Alliance of Therapy Dogs
“Love On A Leash® is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing an avenue for volunteer pet therapy teams to engage in meaningful and productive animal assisted therapy.”- Love on a Leash
Learn more at:
The AKC has a list of therapy dog programs listed alphabetically and lists the states they serve.
Learn more here.
CASA provides support for students in court.
Learn more here.
Introduce yourself/the dog
Whether a volunteer is coming to visit a specific class or your dog will be with you. It’s important to remember to introduce them and explain the rules of being around the dog.
You can click here for an editable Canva link. MAKE SURE YOU CLICK USE TEMPLATE FOR A NEW DESIGN.
You can also click this link for an editable PPT:
How will you use your animal?
There are some many ways you can include your animal, including these:
- Working with students 1:1
- Having the dog visit specific class
- Reading with kids in a reading center
- Small group with the dog
- Class lessons on dog safety
- Teacher visit and self care time
- Yoga with the dog club
- Special events like back to school, meet the counselor, or standardized testing events.
Gather and share the data
If your dog is working with a specific class on reading- track their reading scores.
If you are working 1:1 with a kiddo about separation anxiety- track their attendance.
Use surveys to gather feedback about the important work you and your animal are doing.
Share the joy
Tag and share all your pictures with me! I love to see animals in action fostering empathy.
Pin For Later
Pawsitive School Counselor 
Leave a comment