Therapy Dogs

Walled Lake Consolidated Schools launched the therapy dog program, PALs (Paws Assisting Learners), in 2018 and currently has eight therapy dogs. What makes therapy animals so unique is that their role is not to serve their handlers, but to give attention and affection to all people.

Children who work with therapy dogs have increased reading fluency by an average of 21%

Benefits of Therapy Dogs in our Schools

• Enhances relationships with peers and teachers by experiencing trust and unconditional love from a therapy dog. This helps students learn how to express their feelings and enter into more trusting relationships.

• Increases in school attendance and provides positive moods and reading confidence in the classroom.

• Encourages positive changes towards learning and increased motivation.

• Decreases depression and anxiety behaviors resulting in improved learning outcomes.

• Eases social isolation and helps children learn social skills.

About our Therapy Dogs

• Our therapy dogs are fully funded by the community and cost approximately $9,000.

• Contributors include families, PTSA groups, staff members, local organizations and businesses.

• All of our therapy dogs are highly trained for 10-15 months.

• What makes our program unique is that our dogs are owned by the individual schools, not an individual.