The introduction of our latest college therapy dog, Fudge, has already made a positive impression on staff and student wellbeing.
Fudge, a two-year-old Cavapoo based at Eastleigh College, joins Dexter, a nine-year-old Golden Retriever at Southampton College, with a further eight-year-old Bordoodle, Bella, at Fareham College. Each dog spends one or two days in college per week, meeting and greeting students, providing comfort to those who are struggling and helping students connect with the college environment.
Lorraine Wheeler, Designated Safeguarding Lead at Southampton College, is the owner of Fudge. She commented: “From the first day, we could already see the positive influence Fudge has made on the college community. There have already been so many examples of her helping students, but the one that stands out for me was during an exam period. We had a student who was sitting outside the exam room, unable to talk or bring himself to go in for his exam. But when Fudge went up to him, his demeanour changed completely, and he was finally able to articulate his anxieties. She empowered him to go in for his exam and even sat beside him while he completed it.”
Kierston Paskall, Emotional Literacy and Support Assistant at Southampton College, is the owner of Dexter. She said: “As well as being a therapy dog, Dexter is also a trained assistance dog and this training has already been invaluable, such as when he administered deep pressure therapy during a student’s seizure. We do meet and greets with him every week and I have seen him transform staff who previously had a fear of dogs and soften students who struggled with emotional volatility. He has helped people open up and feel calm and relaxed during their college studies, which is so conducive to positive learning outcomes.”
The benefits of therapy dogs are well documented in the education environment. Examples of these include increased attendance, stronger relationships between students and staff, growth in confidence and reduced anxiety. Extensive risk assessments are taken prior to the arrival of every new dog, and careful precautions are taken in relation to any allergies or fears around dogs.
If you would like to learn more about our therapy dogs, please contact our safeguarding team.
