QUINCY, MI (WTVB) – Quincy Community Schools is preparing to welcome a new member of their staff this fall who has four legs. Sport, a black labrador retriever, is currently in training and will soon be welcomed at the Quincy Middle School as a School Support Animal.
According to a letter being sent to residents in the district, Sport will serve on a part-time basis this spring. He has been training for several months with Magnum K-9.
Sport was selected to work in a school setting because of his calm demeanor and trainability. A presentation on the school support animal was made to the Quincy School Board last month.
According to the minutes from the meeting, the presentation from Quincy Middle School counselor Jennifer Rufenacht included the benefits of a therapy dog. Those benefits include overall health, the school’s climate and culture, social improvements, cognitive improvements, emotional health, and enhanced empathy.
It’s felt there has been an increase in anxiety and depression since the COVID-19 pandemic and many schools with therapy dogs report they have had less office referrals and better attendance.
The health and hygiene of the animal would be a priority and will be taken care of by the handler. The goal is for the dog to be used in all three Quincy school buildings, with at least one handler in each building.
Rufenacht told the Board the dog would need liability insurance which would be about $500. The dog would cost $1,500 and the training costs about $5,000.
Rufenacht said she would be looking at grants to take care of all of the funding.
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