At a recent school board meeting, information on what the program would bring to Londonderry was presented by members of a committee put in place to study the plan and all its advantages.

Presenting information were high school assistant principals Crystal Rich and Ryan O’Connor, beginning by saying the committee put in place did a lot of research on therapy dogs and the positive impact that could be made within the school district.

“This is a small committee we are very proud of,” Rich told board members at the Oct. 22 meeting, adding input came from administration, staff, counselors and students.

This isn’t the first time Londonderry considered bringing a therapy dog to town.

Another proposal came about a decade ago, but never materialized in the district.

This time, O’Connor said the program could be put in place to bring comfort and support to those needing it in the schools, whether staff or students.

Dogs are specifically trained for the job, O’Connor added, and would be placed and owned by one handler who would assume full responsibility for care and training and would incur the costs of keeping the pup and bringing it in where needed during a school day.

That training can include behavior training, learning how to reach to surroundings and being desensitized to loud sounds and noises they may encounter while on the job.

The dogs are used to help lessen stressful situations, promote engagement in learning in schools and help reduce negative behaviors.

Dogs trained as therapy animals are often used not only in schools but in nursing homes, and police departments.

Rich said having a therapy dog available to all schools could be a “nice complimentary measure” for programs and activities.

She cited elementary reading programs as one way the dog could be incorporated where comfort and support might help children.

“But dogs won’t be wandering around Londonderry High School or any other school,” Rich said. “It’s a very controlled situation.”

Once the program is in place, parents/guardians will have the option to have their children opt out of any interactions with the dog. And each school will keep local control to figure out what works best in that building.

Officials noted the committee received a lot of support from surrounding communities that already have comfort/therapy dogs in place.

That included Pinkerton Academy in Derry, now with two comfort pups on campus — Lucy and Luna — that spend their days roaming the halls, greetings students and staff and being on hand when support is needed.

Board members approved the first reading of the new dog therapy program.

Board Chairman Bob Slater said he remembered the idea being floated to the district a decade ago.

“I was excited for it back then,” Slater said, adding he appreciated all the hard work from the committee and the valuable information brought to the board.

Superintendent Dan Black said having a therapy dog program in the Londonderry schools could also provide levels of comfort that are often much needed.

“We have had loss,” Black said, “and we didn’t have the opportunity to work with therapy dogs.”

ldnews@unionleader.com{/div}