Funds Sought to Train Therapy Dog for Duluth School

Anne-Lise Botting, a teacher at Chattahoochee Elementary School in Duluth, is leading efforts to start a dog therapy program at the school.

Funds are being raised through crowdfunding on the www.indiegogo.com site for the PAWSitivity: Learning With My Best Friend program.

The campaign’s goal is to raise $3,900 to train a goldendoodle. So far $2,207 has been raised.

Using human/animal bonding, the dog would assist students with disabilities and with learning or emotional needs.

“While there are other schools that use dog therapy, I am not aware of any that have developed a school-based program such as ours,” Botting said.

“Smeraglia [in Robertsdale, AL,] the breeder and trainers, will begin the puppy selection process after we have raised funds for the training,” she said. “Smeraglia is donating half the cost of the puppy, and my husband and I are paying the other half ourselves.” 

After the therapy dog arrives at the school, Botting said she plans to apply for a grant to train school staff and for continued training of the dog.

Click here to go directly to Chattahoochee Elementary School’s dog therapy campaign on the crowdfunding site.