Policy 2028 - Therapy Dogs in Schools

The Richland School District supports the use of therapy dogs in schools for the benefit of its students. Benefits to students include reduced stress, improved physical and emotional well-being, decreased anxiety, improved self-esteem and normalization of the environment. Activities students may engage with the therapy dog include petting and/or hugging the dog, speaking to the dog, and reading to the dog. 

Definitions 

Therapy dog: a dog that has been individually trained, evaluated, and certified to work with its handler to provide Animal Assisted Activities, Animal Assisted emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship to school district students. Therapy dogs are not "service animals" as that term is used in the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Handler: individual who has been trained, evaluated, and registered with the therapy dog to provide Animal Assisted Activities, Animal Assisted Therapy, and Animal Assisted Interactions within a school or other facility. 

Animal Assisted Activities and Animal Assisted Interactions: non-goal driven interactions where the specific content of the visit is spontaneous and is meant to provide motivational, educational, and/or recreational activities that enhance the quality of life. 

Animal Assisted Therapy: goal-driven intervention, which is directed and/or delivered by a health, human, or education service professional and is meant to improve physical, social, emotional and/or cognitive function of an individual. 

The therapy dog must be well-behaved and have a patient, confident, and gentle temperament that is suitable for interaction with students, staff, and volunteers in a public school. Therapy dogs are personal property of the handler and are not owned by the school district. The handler will assume full responsibility for the therapy dog’s care, behavior, and suitability for interacting with students and others in the school while the therapy dog is on school district property. 

The superintendent will develop procedures to accompany this policy. 

Adoption: