September 27, 2023

“Addi means so much to the children and staff at our school.  There are children who need to see her every day and others who may check in with her occasionally but all of our community benefit from having Addi onsite. There is a measurable reduction in stress and anxiety when Addi is around”

Jenni Concilia

Students face many stressful and problematic situations—at school, at home, in their communities—not to mention the world news highlighting global warming and other catastrophes. Extraordinary situations require novel solutions, and one idea that has gained enormous traction in recent years is the introduction of emotional support dogs in schools. The connection between humans and dogs is long-standing, as evidenced by the 2011 discovery of a dog buried about 32,000 years ago, with what is believed to be a mammoth bone placed in his mouth. Radiocarbon dating has identified another dog, buried alongside a man and a woman in Ober-Kassel (Germany) approximately 14,300 years ago. While in ancient Egypt, the dog-headed Anubis guided spirits to the afterlife; our canine companions today provide invaluable, but different, service. Today, there are many favorite children’s books that explore relationships between children…