Therapy dogs changed the culture of mental health in this Central Valley district [edsource.org]

Mathew Portell 6/1/2312:00 PM

^{Four-year old Scout and 12-year old Jeter are cockapoos who serve the Selma Unified School District as therapy dogs. CREDIT: Kristy Rangel}

By Lasherica Thornton, EdSource, May 30, 2023

If students at Selma High School in Fresno County ever had to vote on their favorite things on campus, Jeter and Scout – two cockapoos – serving as Selma Unified’s therapy dogs, would be the top picks.

Since 2016, 12-year-old Jeter and4-year-old Scout (since 2021) have played a lead role in the district’s push to destigmatize mental health issues and provide services.

They are on campus every day; during lunch, they go from table to table, interacting with students, but they seem to know where they’re needed most: the students who are sitting alone or who seem sad.

[Please click here to read more.]

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