Many students at Fallon struggle with their mental health, and sometimes, they don’t know who they can talk to about their problems. Either this, or they don’t want to talk about them at all. Students don’t have to think about what they have to say; they just relieve their emotions through the comforting action of petting a dog. This is the purpose of Huckleberry on Fallon’s campus.
Huckleberry is a cavapoo, or a cross between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Poodle. He is from the Valley Humane Society and often visits schools, libraries, special events, and Camp Arroyo, an extremely large park owned by the East Bay Regional Parks District. Huckleberry is currently ten years old and very friendly, as he is often seen visiting different classes almost every day, giving kids a break from schoolwork.
The importance of therapy animals is far greater than many people think. Studies show that therapy dogs reduce stress down to the hormonal level. For instance, the National Library of Medicine explains, “Interestingly, studies in humans investigating stress biomarkers found that when people are engaged with interacting or stroking a dog, sensory stimulation in both the human and the dog can activate oxytocin and decrease cortisol levels in humans…” Not only do therapy dogs help negate cortisol in humans, but they also help themselves. It’s important to consider the well-being of therapy animals as well, because if a human were to be calmer at the cost of the animal’s contentment, there is no good reason to invest in one. Fortunately, there is a good system in place that prevents more than 5 students at a time from petting Huckleberry, so he is happier than ever to assist Fallon students with their mental health.
Mrs. Lidster and Ms. Harris played huge roles in establishing Fallon’s Pet Therapy Program. In an interview, Mrs. Lidster revealed Huckleberry’s true effect on Fallon’s student body by saying, ”We’ve seen many students come in and they’re tired, or they come in and they’re stressed out, or they come in and they’re sad, and the moment the dog walks in, there’s just this sense of happiness, excitement, and relief.” Students’ faces light up not only when they pet Huckleberry, but also when they just see the dog. When they see Huckleberry, students can do almost anything with him, whether it’s petting him, playing with him, or even talking to him.
Huckleberry provides students with significant mental health benefits while also improving his own well-being. He is a very good investment for the school, since Huckleberry can help students in ways no one else can. Mrs. Lidster and Ms. Harris are definitely the ones to thank if Huckleberry ever brings a smile to your face. When you are out on campus, make sure to keep a lookout for Huckleberry, because he is spreading joy wherever he goes.
