There is nothing like the bond of a dog and a child. Each and every day across our four buildings, our therapy dogs bring smiles to the faces of those that need them the most, from our young children navigating school for the first time, to our seniors, readying to take some of their most important exams of the year. Whether it’s Bonnie Bea at Homer Brink, Rosie at the high school, Pip and Winston at the middle school, or Hudson and Jax at Maine Memorial – our K9s are making a difference – impacting children and adults in more ways than any could have imagined.
Maine-Endwell’s therapy dog program started in 2021 when 3rd Grade teacher Barb Durkot brought the idea to principal Bill Dundon, the administration, and school board. The longtime dream to create such a program was born in her college days, when her graduate research project studied the impact K9s can have on improving a child’s reading. In the midst of COVID, Durkot knew it was the perfect time to begin.
Starting off with her dog Hudson, the “OG” as she calls him – the positive results were immediate, and even better than originally expected. Not only did Hudson help in the development of our younger readers – he also improved attendance and communication. In a recent poll, 56.1% of students at Maine Memorial said they come to school every day, specifically to see Hudson. In the weeks and months following his tenure at Maine Memorial, Hudson helped children with behavior issues, speech and language goals, reducing anxiety, stress management, and much more. When asked about Hudson, one Maine Memorial student said, “I like having Hudson at school because every time we pass him, we all get to have a good start to the day or any time!”
And that positivity wasn’t exclusive to the students. Staff members immediately began falling in love with the lab and boarder collie mix, reporting better attitudes and a reduction in stress. They also quickly noticed Hudson’s impact on students. “I have seen children who were completely inconsolable be calmed down within minutes of Hudson interacting with them. I have also witnessed staff having a hard day pet him, and you can tell it comforts them. Hudson is a huge asset to our school,” said one faculty member.
In the months to follow Hudson’s first time as a school therapy dog, the mission was clear – bringing at least one trained K9 to all four of our buildings. Today, that goal has become a reality, as our therapy dogs are now fixtures in their respective schools, providing unconditional love and a non-judgmental ear for anyone that needs it.
“I love the fact that some of your toughest kids with the most difficult home situations hug and kiss the dog, and it brings all the barriers down. They can just act like a kid,” said Durkot.
Many of the therapy dogs within our schools are also rescues – giving them a whole new purpose in life. We’d like to thank our loving K9s and their handlers on this National Therapy Dog Appreciation Day. A huge shoutout to Bonnie Bea, Julie Roma and Hilary Rozek from Homer Brink, Hudson, Jax and Barb Durkot from Maine Memorial, Pip, Winston, Marisa Maney and Amanda Bowen from the middle school, and Rosie and Stacy Spaulding from the high school. Your dogs and their presence means more to our students and staff than they’ll ever know.
