The Aberdeen school district supports the use of facility therapy dogs for the benefit of its students subject to the conditions of this policy. Benefits from working or visiting with a therapy dog include reduced stress, improved physical and emotional well-being, low blood pressure, decreased anxiety, improved self-esteem and normalization of the environment, increasing the likelihood of successful academic achievement by the student. Examples of activities that students may engage in with a therapy dog include petting and/or hugging the dog, speaking to the dog, giving the dog simple commands that the dog is training/trained to respond to, and reading to the dog.
DEFINITIONS
“Animal Assisted Activities” and “Animal Assisted Interactions” are non-goal-driven interactions where the specific content of the visit is spontaneous and is meant to provide motivational, educational and/or recreational activities that enhance the quality of life.
“Animal Assisted Therapy” is a goal-driven intervention, which is directed and/or delivered by a health, human, or education service professional and is meant to improve physical, social, emotional and/or cognitive function of an individual.
A “therapy dog” is a dog that has been individually trained, evaluated and registered with his/her handler to provide Animal Assisted Activities, Animal Assisted Therapy and Animal Assisted Interactions within a school or other facility. Therapy dogs are not the same as “emotional support animals” or “service animals.” Service animals are permitted on school grounds in accordance with the school district’s service animal policy (See Policy 970). A therapy dog is the personal property of the handler and is not the property of the school district. The handler shall assume full responsibility for the therapy dog’s care, behavior and suitability for interacting with students and others in the school while the therapy dog is on school district property.
A “handler” is an individual school district staff member or volunteer who has been individually trained, evaluated, and registered with the therapy dog to provide Animal Assisted Activities, Animal Assisted Therapy, and Animal Assisted Interactions within a school or other facility.
THERAPY DOG STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES
The following requirements must be satisfied before a therapy dog will be allowed in school buildings or on school district property:
Request
At the request of the principal or the principal’s designee, a handler who wishes to bring a therapy dog to school district property shall submit a completed written request form to the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee for approval (See Form 972F1). The request shall be submitted for approval each school year and/or whenever the handler wishes to use a different therapy dog. Such approval may be rescinded at any time at the sole discretion of the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee. Once the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee approves the request, a plan for dog visits shall be developed with the Principal or Principal’s designee.
Training and Registration
The handler shall submit proof of registration as a therapy dog handler with each individual therapy dog he or she plans to bring to the school district. Such registration shall be from Canine Companions for Independence, or such other therapy dog registering organization as determined by the Superintendent. At a minimum, such registration shall be from an organization that requires an evaluation of the therapy dog and handler prior to registration and at least every two (2) years and shall remain current and in good standing at all times.
Health and Vaccination
The handler shall submit proof from a licensed veterinarian that the therapy dog is in good health and has been immunized against diseases common to dogs. Such vaccinations shall be kept current and up to date at all times.
Licensing
The handler shall submit proof of licensure from the local dog licensing authority (e.g. city or county).
Insurance
The handler must submit a copy of an insurance policy that provides liability coverage for the work of the handler and therapy dog while the two are on school district property.
STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES AT SCHOOL
Once a handler has been approved by the Superintendent or Superintendent’s designee to bring a therapy dog on school district property, such handler shall adhere to the rules of his/her registering organization and the following rules of the school district:
Identification
The handler and therapy dog shall wear appropriate identification issued by the registering organization identifying them as a registered handler and therapy dog. The handler shall bring only registered therapy dogs onto school district property and may bring only one such dog at a time. The handler shall not bring young children along to the school district when handling a therapy dog.
Health and Safety
The handler shall ensure that the therapy dog does not pose a health and safety risk to any student, employee, or other person at school and that the therapy dog is brought to the school district only when properly groomed, bathed, free of illness or injury and of the temperament appropriate to working with children and others in the schools.
Control
The handler shall ensure that the therapy dog wears a collar or harness and a leash no longer than four feet (4’) and shall maintain control of the therapy dog by holding the leash at all times that the therapy dog is on school district property, including during breaks, unless holding such leash would interfere with the therapy dog’s safe, effective performance of its work or tasks. However, the handler shall maintain control of the therapy dog at all times and shall not tether the therapy dog to any individual or object.
Supervision and Care of Therapy Dog
The handler shall (i) be solely responsible for the supervision and humane care of the therapy dog, including any feeding, exercising, and cleaning up after the therapy dog while the therapy dog is in a school building or on school property; (ii) not leave the therapy dog unsupervised or alone on school property at any time; and (iii) limit the therapy dog’s work to two (2) consecutive hours at a time. The school district is not responsible for providing any care, supervision or assistance to the therapy dog.
Authorized Area(s)
The handler shall ensure that the therapy dog has access to only such areas of the school buildings or properties that have been authorized by school district administrators.
Allergies and Aversions
The handler shall remove the therapy dog to a separate area as designated by school administrators in such instances where any student or school employee who suffers dog allergies or aversions is present in an office, hallway or classroom.
Recordkeeping
Volunteer handlers shall sign themselves and their therapy dog in upon arrival at any school and shall sign both out upon departure from the building. Handlers who are school district staff shall sign in their therapy dog upon arrival and sign him/her out upon their departure.
Photographs
The handler shall not take any photographs of students or staff without first obtaining a written photo release.
Fees and Gratuities
The handler shall not charge a fee for the work they perform with the therapy dog, shall not borrow money or personal items, or receive any personal gratuity, gift or tip, such as money or jewelry from students or staff in the district.
Multiple Therapy Dogs on Site
The handler shall confirm whether or not there will be any other therapy dog(s) on site prior to scheduling any visit with a therapy dog and shall take steps with appropriate staff to ensure that the dogs do not engage inappropriately while on school property. When multiple therapy dogs are engaged in a planned activity on school district property, the handlers shall ensure that the dogs have an opportunity to greet each other prior to entering the school building. Once inside the building, the handlers shall ensure that the dogs are each on a four-foot (4’) leash, given work space at least eight feet (8’) from each other and are given no opportunity for contact or socialization with each other while working.
Damages and Injuries
The handler shall assume full responsibility and liability for any damage to school property or injury to district staff, students or others in the school caused by the therapy dog.
Exclusion or Removal from School District Property
A therapy dog may be excluded from school district property if a school administrator determines that: (1) the handler does not have control of the therapy dog; (2) the therapy dog is not housebroken; (3) the therapy dog presents a direct and immediate threat to others in the school; or (4) the therapy dog’s presence otherwise interferes with the educational program. The handler shall immediately remove his/her therapy dog from school property when instructed to do so by a school administrator.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
LEGAL REFERENCE:
Idaho Code Sections
33-512
ADOPTED: September 16, 2020
AMENDED:
(Form)