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Stony Point Elementary

Every Student. Every Day.

PAWS Program: Meet Ray the Therapy Dog

Ray lies on the floor while a student sits near him and colors.
Ray sits in the grass with three students. Ray has a tennis ball in his mouth.
Ray lies on the carpet while students read books nearby.
Ray sits in the grass with four students sitting near him.

Partnering with Animals In School (PAWS)

What is a Therapy Dog? 

A therapy dog is a specially trained and certified dog that provides comfort, emotional support, and companionship in various settings, including schools. Unlike service dogs, which perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities, therapy dogs offer general emotional and social support to a broader group of people.

In a school setting, therapy dogs help students regulate their emotions, improve social skills, and engage more effectively in learning. All therapy dogs in the Grain Valley Schools’ School Therapy Dog Program must meet specific behavioral and training criteria to ensure they are well-suited for interaction with students and staff.

Bright Futures Grain Valley Logo

 

Benefits of Therapy Dog Program

Ray the therapy dog runs outside with a tennis ball in his mouth. Meet Ray! 

Ray is a whoodle (Wheaten Terrier/Poodle) and serves the Stony Point Elementary students and staff. 

When Ray isn't supporting students, you'll most likely find him with a tennis ball in his mouth, ready to play fetch or proudly showing it off. He even falls asleep with his favorite ball! Ray loves going on reward walks with students, playing games, and solving treat puzzles by sniffing out hidden rewards. He never misses an opportunity for a good pet or scratch and warmly welcomes attention from everyone he meets.

Stay connected with Ray’s adventures at Stony Point by following his Facebook or Instagram pages. 

Facebook: @raythetherapydog
Instagram: @raythetherapydog 

Grain Valley Schools PAWS Program

Emotional and Psychological Benefits 

  • Therapy dogs help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression among students.
  • They promote emotional regulation, helping students manage frustration, anger, or sadness.
  • The presence of a therapy dog can increase oxytocin (the "bonding hormone") while decreasing cortisol (the "stress hormone"), creating a calming effect in students.

Social and Behavioral Improvements

  • Therapy dogs help students build connections with peers, teachers, and other school staff.
  • They can reduce behavioral issues by encouraging empathy, patience, and respect.
  • Structured interactions with therapy dogs can support students with social difficulties, including those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or emotional disabilities (ED).

Academic Engagement and Motivation

  • Students may feel more comfortable and motivated to engage in schoolwork with a therapy dog present.
  • Reading programs with therapy dogs encourage reluctant readers to practice literacy skills in a non-judgmental setting.
  • Therapy dogs can be used as an incentive for academic participation and positive behavior reinforcement.

Trauma-Informed & Brain-Based Learning Connections

  • Students with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) or trauma histories benefit from predictable, calming interactions with therapy dogs.
  • Therapy dogs help regulate the nervous system, supporting students in transitioning from heightened emotional states to a more focused and engaged mindset.
  • Emotional safety is critical for learning; therapy dogs help create a school environment where students feel valued and supported.