February 1, 2008
A Dog Named Boo Who Helps Special Needs Kids
Let's hear it for a dog named Boo! The 8-year-old mixed-breed Labrador retriever is a therapy dog at a Putnam County school, where he's helping kids come out of their shells.
The Journal News and Putnam County Courier highlighted the incredible story of Marc Oliviere, a six-year-old who was designated a selective mute and attends a school in Mahopac. He's part of a program for students who need help with social and learning skills, and the teacher decided to apply for a therapy dog to aid her students. And once Marc met Boo, he spoke.
April Olivere mother told the Courier: "It was so wonderful to see him so talkative and excited. He talked about petting her and how she licked him and he kissed his new friend. We are so grateful to have 'Boo-Boo' in our lives. Marc even sleeps with 'Boo-Boo's picture and he posts it on the fridge before leaving for school. It is so awesome." Other students have also benefited from Boo, gaining overall confidence, and teacher Penny Wieser said, "This is a miraculous breakthrough and this wonderful dog is the catalyst."
Boo and his trainer Lisa Edwards work with the Delta Society, which employs pets as therapy animals for schools, nursing homes, and more. New York City's ASPCA has been affiliated with Delta since 2000. If you're interested in registering your pet as a therapy animal, the ASPCA offers training classes for pets and owners before a Delta Society evaluation. The next training session is Saturday and Sunday March 29th and 30th in Manhattan.
Boo and Marc Oliviere, by Matthew Brown/The Journal News
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Austin Road Elementary School!!! No friggin' way!!! I went there!!!
(I was kidnapped in white flight as a child and then fought my way back.)
Good for them.
Hey, Tim N., I moved to M. in 6th grade, so I went to the old Mahopac Central School, later called Mahopac Middle School, but my brother and sister went to Austin Road Elementary. That was in the days when a first grade teacher, who was also an ordained nun, was fired and drummed out of the community, for displaying a poster in her classroom that read "War is not healthy for children and other living creatures."
Guess the John Birch Society thought war was good for children and other living creatures.
turns out that poster was designed in 1967 for the organization Another Mother for Peace(AMP) as a Vietnam War protest.
Here's an example of the poster on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/War-is-not-healthy-for-children-other-living-things_W0QQitemZ310008586589QQcmdZViewItem
I love this story - it's so sweet. And I love how the trainer, Lisa Edwards, explains the dog helps the kids learn how to have empathy for the dog, themselves, other people. So great.
finally a heartwarming story on gothamist
Me and you and a dog named Boo
Travellin' and livin' off the land
Me and you and a dog named Boo
How I love being a free man
Famdoc... now that sounds more like the Mahopac that I grew up in.
Famdoc... now that sounds more like the Mahopac that I grew up in.
Just wait until one of the parents sues to have this program stopped because their precious snowflake is allergic to dogs.
I just wish more schools did this, not just for special needs kids. Animals seem to bring out the best in kids. It can help with shyness and bring an entire classroom together.
There aren't enough treats for Boo or his owner Lisa Edwards. Such an awesome gift to share your pet with people who could use a little unconditional loving. Nice work Delta Society!
I read about this on the subway this morning and teared up a little. People looked at me funny.
that is a great story.
It is nice to see some good news every now and then.
Call me a cynic, but the one thing I found amazing is that there was no irate parent screaming "People are allergic to dogs! What about the children!"
I'm allergic to nice stories.