LEWISBURG W.Va. (WVDN) – First lady Cathy Justice and Governor Jim Justice presented the Lewisburg Elementary School with a new therapy dog named “Pixie.” Children were overjoyed to meet their new cohort in education when trainers from Ultimate Canine in Indiana appeared with the beautiful Labradoodle. Pixie is a soft, curly brown bundle of love who is ready to help students navigate the stressors and anxious moments of learning, becoming overwhelmed or just needing a moment to disengage from any of the stressful tasks they might face.
Kindergarten can be tough when you’re having a not-so-good day. The primary-aged students will benefit greatly from a therapy dog for a myriad of reasons. Pixie is trained to recognize a stressed-out third grader and offers her soft non-shedding coat, impeccable manners and a snuggle when commanded. She can detect emotional cues that are invisible to humans. Therapy dogs are specially trained to provide comfort and support to people in various tense environments. They can help people feel at ease, improve their mood, relieve anxiety and remove social barriers. Therapy dogs are highly trained and certified to show their ability to work in stressful environments, ignore distractions and provide therapy to people in many different circumstances.
Ultimate Canine is an award-winning, dog training academy located in Westfield, Indiana, which offers puppy training, adult dog training, behavior modifications, therapy and service dogs, puppy selections and litter evaluations, temperament testing, police K-9 training and handler certifications. Ultimate Canine has a team of 29 highly trained and certified employees. The training program and its dogs have won many national and international awards, earning respect and recognition worldwide. They implement the most renowned techniques, studies and practices obtained throughout the years from around the world. The two trainers were happy to deliver their “sweetest cuddler” to Lewisburg Elementary.
To donate to the foundation or see how you can help attain more therapy dogs for other schools, please, visit their website at https://ultimatecaninetraining.com/.
This project was made possible through grants and the incredible people at Communities in Schools. With locations in Greenbrier County and 54 other counties in West Virginia, “CIS is working with more than 1.6 million kids in more than 2,500 schools in 26 states and the District of Columbia and is designed to address the impact of poverty from every angle.”
“Governor Jim Justice and first lady Cathy Justice understand the significant impact Communities In Schools (CIS) can make in the lives of students and are committed to building upon the program’s success in West Virginia. Whether it’s hunger, homelessness, emotional trauma or a lack of access to basic medical care, students shouldn’t have to face these challenges alone. At Communities In Schools, we amplify the power of each student’s potential through an evidence-based model rooted in caring relationships.”
You may also donate to this nonprofit organization by visiting the West Virginia Department of Education website at https://wvde.us/cis/.
Principal Sara Bennett will be the caregiver for Pixie and keep her up to speed with her learned commands while making sure she has a loving, happy home. Pixie will be recertified and updated on her training annually and will be with the school her entire life. The children got an unexpected treat when Babydog rolled in to meet Pixie. The two greeted each other happily, wagging tails and sharing kisses. The meeting seemed befitting as these two serve their state’s children, that they be immediate and lifelong friends.
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