Students Find Comfort in Furry Friends
"We have a dog — his name is Sarge and everyone in our home loves him ... especially when he cleans the floor."
Homes are always happier when one of the members of the family walks on four legs, right? We sure think so!
With help from supporters like you, St. Joseph's is proud to have the Houseparents and Pets In (HAPI) Homes program on campus. The program launched in 2017 with three dogs. We're happy to announce the program just got a bit HAPI-er, and has expanded to 13 dogs in select homes and classrooms!
Why are the dogs here?
Glad you asked. Research has shown dogs support psychological growth, as well as increased social skills and self-esteem in children and adolescents. They provide emotional support, positively impact reading progress, may decrease anxiety and increase overall academic achievement.
"We've seen students who have a hard time speaking to adults or other children open up to a dog," says Maija, the HAPI Homes Program Coordinator. "Over time, the students' communication with the dog spills over to others in the home and the classroom. Before you know it, that quiet kid you worried would never open up is a leader in his or her home and classroom ... and it started with a dog."
HAPI Homes also teaches students the responsibility that goes into caring for an animal.
Can any dog come to St. Joseph's?
Not just any four-legged friend gets to come to school. The dogs at St. Joseph's are owned by houseparents or other staff. They have met strict guidelines to test their temperament and have documentation to prove they're up to date on their shots. A local K-9 police officer must deem the dog fit to be around children. If they are declared a good citizen, they can come to campus to visit homes and classrooms on a leash. Dogs are never left alone with students.
"[Our housedog] is funny. He makes me feel safe. He does tricks that make me happy and he is nice and cool."
How are the dogs making a difference?
Again, we're glad you asked. Let us show you an example of a situation that happened right here on campus:
After venturing downstairs in his pajamas, a St. Joseph's student explained to his houseparent, Trond, that he couldn't sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, he could see scary red eyes on the side of his closet.
After taking the student back up to his room, Trond returned shortly after with Sarge, the resident dog and sniffer-of-all-things-scary, to look around. After Sarge was only able to find a half-eaten hot dog in the garbage the young boy was able to relax and slept soundly for the rest of the night.
It can be difficult for little ones to be away from home — especially when they first come to school. Having a comforting presence that comes from a dog can be truly beneficial.
"The transformations are incredible," Maija says. "We're so happy to have more dogs on campus now. It's a lot of fun to see the kids interact with them."
Wopila tanka — many thanks — for supporting programs like this at St. Joseph's Indian School!
Want to do more for St. Joseph’s Indian School's students?
With a gift in your Will, you can ensure St. Joseph’s Indian School continues to provide students with innovative, effective programs for years to come. Contact Denise Hyland at 1-800-584-9200 or dhyland@stjo.org to learn more about educating the Lakota children for life — mind, body, heart and spirit!