Dogs become integral tool in classrooms

What to look for on Smart Talk, Tuesday, July 23, 2019:

Schools are using therapy dogs to enrich students’ lives, from everyday programs to emotional support after a disaster. Districts in Lancaster, York and Dauphin counties are adding furry staff to fill a range of needs.

Guest host Valerie Pritchett of ABC27 fills in for Scott LaMar to discuss dogs in the classroom ahead of a new school year.

How are dogs trained and certified? What benefits are there to students? What is the cost to schools and taxpayers, and what is the return on investment?

We will also explore the differences between service, facility, therapy and emotional support dogs.

Joining Smart Talk are Deb Tack, partner coordinator at Susquehanna Service Dogs, Doug Hopwood, executive director of Keystone Pet Enhanced Therapy Services, and Kristin Glass, school psychologist at Lampeter-Strasburg High School.

(Left to right) Doug Hopwood, Kristin Glass and Deb Tack

Mali of Susquehanna Service Dogs in the WITF studio