Chartiers Valley Primary School Enjoys Visits from Therapy Pets

In partnership with Western Pennsylvania Humane Society and Therapy Dogs International, Chartiers Valley Primary School brings in dogs four times a month to interact with students. The program has doubled in size since it started two years ago. 

Dogs can be useful to help children learn to read. “When they are reading to the dog, the dog is totally nonjudgmental, adding a very high comfort level,” kindergarten teacher Stephanie Zervanos told Trib Total Media.

She added that the promise of spending time with the dogs is a good motivator: Teachers measure the students’ progress by different means, such as placing a marble in a bowl for every good deed. When the bowl is full, the class gets to spend the day with the dogs.

“Ultimately, we would like every student to get to experience the dogs a couple times a year, both in group and individual settings,” said Dawn Zarlingo, the school’s psychologist.