Should all schools have therapy dogs?

Therapy dogs have helped students and schools for years in many different ways. C-TEC of Licking County has a therapy dog that stays in the guidance office. Licking Valley students have been wondering why all schools don't have one.

After talking to one of the Licking Valley guidance counselors, the reasons why we don't have one make much more sense.

Shona Garver, Licking Valley guidance counselor, says that she and Courtney Lichtenauer, another Licking Valley guidance counselor, have had conversations about getting a therapy dog because they think there “is a lot of value in having one.” Ripken, the therapy dog at C-TEC (pictured to the right), is one of the counselor’s family dog and has been through intense training to become a therapy dog.

Having a therapy dog is a lot of training and it isn't cheap. Mrs. Garver says that Ripken “is very helpful” for students and staff at C-TEC. For the school to be able to have the dog there, they had to get permission from the school and someone always has to be with him. It is a personal commitment to have a therapy dog.

Therapy dogs are highly trained and would never in any situation hurt someone. Ripken stays in the counseling office most of the time, but if he is out and about, he is on a leash. There are signs posted by the entrance doors letting people know that he is here.

Overall, Ripken is an amazing attribute to C-TEC but it is a lot of work to be able to have him there. Licking Valley is not yet ready to take on the responsibility because it just doesn't fit into the counselors’ schedules. Licking Valley would love to have a therapy dog, but not at the moment. Maybe one day, but not today.