Flynn the Therapy Dog
On Tuesday, February 1st, LHS welcomed its first ever therapy dog to campus: Flynn. If you’ve managed to catch a glimpse of her since then, as most students have, you’ll know that she’s definitely not what you would call an energetic lap dog. As a 2-year-old Leonberger, a breed which the AKC describes as having a “gentle nature and serene patience,” Flynn weighs a whopping 125 pounds. Along with her handler Mickey, Flynn can be spotted around the LHS campus every Tuesday. The six-day rotation means everyone should get a chance to bump into her once in a while.
Besides the obvious allergy concerns, I don’t think anyone despises the idea of being able to pet a dog during the school day. But personally, when they first announced Flynn’s arrival, I was both elated and, for some inexplicable reason, upset. Don’t get me wrong, I love dogs just as much as the next person and even have a dog myself, but when your homework is piles high and your week feels incessantly long, you inevitably wonder: How’s a dog going to fix any of this?
The answer is, she probably can’t, and she probably won’t. It’s an unrealistic expectation and one she was not brought here to fulfill. However, I do believe that we can acknowledge this truth while still appreciating and taking full advantage of Flynn’s presence.
Though Flynn won’t magically be ameliorating the intense academic and extracurricular stress that characterizes LHS, it is very likely, and scientifically proven, that she can help individual students have a better experience at the school. One NIH study researching animal interactions with kids who have autism, ADHD, and other conditions, reported major benefits to the inclusion of therapy dogs within schools. Another study, which investigated interactions between dogs and university students, reported that, “all participants, regardless of condition, experienced a reduction in their anxiety and an improvement in their mood across time.”
The one and only time I’ve met Flynn was on her first day at LHS. It was a typical week for me, with a multitude of tests and projects on my plate. Of course, when I heard there was a dog coming around during my study, I gladly left my work behind. Maybe it was just getting to take my mind completely off work for a few minutes, or maybe it was the oxytocin that’s supposedly released when you pet a dog, but while going back to class, I felt a bit happier for a reason I couldn't exactly pinpoint. And while I still had the same amount of work waiting at my desk, it didn’t seem as huge of a deal.
So, despite my initial doubts, I do understand why LHS decided to bring in Flynn. I’m thankful for all the work she is doing for the students; I just hope that she’s not considered a “solution” to problems yet to be addressed.
by VIVIAN WANG