Have you heard of National Therapy Animal Day? This day shows appreciation to all therapy animals in the country. Therapy animals are animals (primarily dogs) that are trained and registered to comfort and provide support to the people around them.
Here at the middle school, we have a therapy dog named Ariel. The high school also has a therapy dog whose name is Rosie. Both dogs are owned by the school, but are cared for by Ms. Sara Miller, gifted coordinator, and Mr. Bill Deal, director of teaching and learning. Ariel helps students to reduce stress and anxiety. Students often come to school feeling constantly overwhelmed. To help with this major issue, we have Ariel, who can help students with these struggles.
We first got Rosie, who was up at the high school. There were a few complications in getting a therapy dog. The district agreed that they wanted a therapy dog but struggled to find a way to cover the cost .
“Philosophically, everybody agreed with getting the dog, but we were having the biggest hurdle with finding how to cover the cost of the dog,” Mr. Deal stated. April English was the former life skills teacher at the high school who really wanted a therapy dog as part of her program, and continued to help to find a way to cover the cost so that we could have Rosie at the high school. She was able to secure a $5,000 grant to cover the cost of the dog.
“The best way to describe it is Rosie just really brought down the temperature of the building. She just kind of has a very calming effect.” Mr. Deal, the director of teaching and learning, stated continued, “Ms. English was using her in a way where she was building responsibility with the kids. There were students who were having attendance issues who weren’t coming to school, so it was like well hey Rosie’s relying on you to come to school and give her a walk every day, so there were students who were coming in as part of that.”
The middle school would later get Ariel in 2022.
“Ariel has helped with my anxiety and a lot of other stuff. She is always there for me through ups and down. She was there for me during my mom’s surgery. I love to have her, because I don’t have a dog of my own,” Dallis Ash (5) stated.
Windrose Animal Hospital is located in Cranberry Township. Windrose sponsors the care for both of the therapy dogs here at Freedom Area School District. The sponsorship includes a $1000 value each year for both of the dogs. The sponsorship also includes a yearly wellness exam, all necessary vaccinations, one year of preventative medicine for flea, tick, and heartworm, annual testing, unlimited medical exams and rechecks, and three urgent care visits per year. Windrose’s owner, Dr. Richard Skalos, helped acquire the medical treatment Ariel needed in 2024 when she had to have emergency surgery.
Students really appreciate having a way provided to them to calm themselves down. Ariel is a great outlet for students to be able to take a second to cool down.
“Ariel has calmed me down when I felt upset, mad, and angry. She’s always a buddy I can go to when upset,” Otto Weir (8) stated.
Some students have been able to have Ariel for a little bit in class throughout the day to help them out. When students are stressed or anxious, Ariel being with them helps them a lot.
“Throughout the day, I get a few pets and A-days 9th period I get her for 40- minutes. They have been so compatible so I can have her. She will always come and lay by me in class as well,” Ash said.
Students are always glad to get a few minutes of one-on-one time with Ariel and are always sure to enjoy the energy she brings to the table in order to cheer them up.
“I usually spend a few minutes per day with Ariel, about 5-10 minutes each day. She’s really lazy, but she can be really playful, and if you take her outside, she will lay with you, plus she’s just really cute,” Weir (8) said.
