Therapy Dog Helps Students De-Stress

Each Wednesday, Bo makes his way through the hallways at St. James-Seton School in Omaha, Nebraska. However, though isn’t your average student just going from class to class. He’s actually a dog.

According to CNS News, Bo the golden retriever/Labrador mix spends his Wednesday mornings being friendly with all of the students in the school. He’s a trained therapy dog and can help students de-stress before they go to school for the day and afterwards. He nuzzles up to them and allows them all to pet him, giving them the chance to feel some sort of stress relief and happiness.

Bo’s owner, Suzi Richardson, says she began bringing her dog into the school back in October. She makes him available before classes, while students are walking to the next class, or whenever they might need some “Bo time.”

Bo is a helpful dog for all students in the school. However, he’s especially helpful for one student named Sydney Gatzemeyer. Gatzemeyer is a kindergartner being treated for brain cancer. Currently, Sydney is in remission, but she does have to go to the nurse’s office frequently to have her temperature checked or when she simply doesn’t feel well. Unfortunately, having to go to the nurse’s office so often means she has to miss out on class and miss out on being with her friends. Understandably so, that upsets her. Sydney’s mother Sarah says if Bo is in the office when Sydney stops by, she is a lot happier and a lot calmer. She believes that dogs can actually tell when someone doesn’t feel well, so they are able to help a child feel a lot better in many different situations.

Sixth-grader Nathan Davis spoke with CNS news about BoAnd how the dog makes him feel.

“Bo is very nice and makes my day, especially if I’m upset or stressed about school or my schoolwork,” Nathan said. “He helps me a lot with my emotions and helps me calm down so I can be ready for school.”

Richardson plans to keep bringing Bo into the school on a weekly basis. The love the kids have for the dog is certainly undeniable, so she would hate to take that away from them. Many people purchase hot tubs to relieve stress. In fact, 83.9% of hot tub owners bought their tub with the primary purpose of relaxing and relieving stress. However, a dog named Bo works perfectly as a source of stress relief for these little ones.