Long Beach Students 'Heel' Their Stress With Therapy Dog Visit

LONG BEACH, NY. — Long Beach High School got a visit from a four-legged professional Thursday, as a golden retriever named Jackson stopped by the school’s wellness center, The Well, to visit students and help ease their nerves.

Jackson is a trained therapy dog, brought to the school through a partnership with Pet Partners. Founded in Portland, OR in 1977, Pet Partners brings trained therapy animals on visits to hospitals, schools and other locations to improve the emotional, physical and social wellbeing of the people there. The organization cites the strong bond between humans and animals as a driver of those benefits, and district officials said they hope to make “Therapy Dog Thursday” a regular occurrence at The Well.

“Jackson brought an energy of calm and connection to The Well. It’s amazing how something so gentle can be so powerful,” Long Beach Wellness Center faculty member Kristen Ford said. “You could feel the shift in the room. Students who spent time with him left smiling, lighter and more grounded.”

The Well was created to provide a calming, inclusive space that helps students to manage their wellbeing on emotional, mental, physical and social levels. District officials said the center highlights mindfulness, movement and wellness education to make sure students feel, “grounded, empowered and confident to lead with compassion, both in and beyond the classroom.”