By NATE KING
Salina Post
School attendance may be lacking nationwide, but at St. Mary's Elementary School, students eagerly race to class to hug the newest faculty member at Salina Catholic Schools, Jade, a silver labrador retriever professional therapy dog.
Following the COVID-19 Pandemic, Salina Catholic schools learned tough lessons about emotional regulation. Therapy dogs provide support and comfort to individuals in need by using their social instincts and skills to offer socio-emotional, cognitive, and health benefits.
Tym Bonilla, St. Mary's Elementary School principal, said having a therapy dog on campus has become integral to learning.
"Introducing Jade to the classroom has helped us emotionally regulate students," Bonilla said. "Jade helps erase certain stigmas associated with emotional struggles, depression, anxiety and anger management."
St. Mary's kindergarten teacher, Jessica Jacobs, also Jade's owner, said she got the idea from seeing therapy dogs used in other schools.
"When I got Jade and took her along on all of my adventures, she was so well-behaved, and everyone we encountered loved her," Jacobs said. "I knew she would make a great addition to my classroom."
Jacobs said having Jade in the classroom helps teach students how to act responsibly and with empathy.
"She has taught students responsibility, as they have to make sure she has water, they see her bed and that she needs let out to go to the bathroom," Jacobs said. "They have also learned empathy; we talk about how we must treat her kindly and use calm bodies and voices."
Professional therapy dog training
Before arriving at St. Mary's, Jade participated in four months of training completed by CARES, INC., a licensed therapy dog training academy in Concordia.
Jade's training also included spending time with the staff and inmates at the Ellsworth Prison.
CARES founder and owner Sarah Holbert said training a dog to become a professional therapy dog typically starts with puppies selected from CARE's breeding program. Jade was a unique exception.
"We turn away a lot of dogs because they don't have the right temperament," Holbert said. "They don't have the right foundation. It just happened that Jade was one of those rare dogs that I felt would respond well to the training, and she did."
Holbert stressed how rare it is to train an adult dog to become a therapy dog successfully.
"CARES, INC. just celebrated 30 years, and in that time, I can think of less than five times when we have successfully trained a dog from outside our breeding program to become a professional therapy dog. It is very rare," Holbert said.
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One aspect of Jade's personality that sets her apart from other dogs is that she is incredibly accepting of all people.
"Some dogs are hesitant to meet small people, like kiddos," Holbert said. "They don't know what to think about 18-month-old toddlers toddling around. Dogs can be very judgmental."
One of the ways CARES helps foster positive and healthy relationships with people Jade interacts with is by using positive reinforcement.
"We do not treat train; we only train through positive reinforcement either by petting or verbalization like saying 'You're such a good girl,'" Holbert said. "The dog should interact with the person or the kiddo, not just look to see what they have in their hand."
Bringing smiles to students
Not all dogs accept and understand the correction and positive reinforcement component. However, Jade does. Even though Jade has received treats, she is very willing and eager to work for pets rather than treats.
"The students have been very excited to have her in our building. Jade helps them feel happy and calm," Jacobs said. "When Jade walks into the building or a room, everyone is all smiles."
Jacobs said if students feel sad, worried, or need personal space, they can spend time with Jade to help them cope with what they are experiencing.
"Jade has inspired more elaborate pretend play in our classroom. Students have incorporated different experiences with her into their play. There have also been a lot of "Jade" art projects," Jacobs said.
Those interested in bringing a therapy dog program to their school or workplace can contact training academies like CARES, INC.
"Most programs I contacted had between a two and three-year waitlist for a dog," Jacobs said. "Interested teachers should also visit with their building administration to ensure that a school therapy dog would be allowed."