Canine Colleague for MCS!

Special guest Fleur, School Support Dog in training, visited to meet our students, ahead of our very own canine colleague who will arrive next year. The dog will have been chosen for its gentle nature and will make for a calming and happy presence in MCS.

They will have all their obedience training completed, will be well socialised around school environments and introduced to students, so both the dog and students will be perfectly safe in each others’ company.  The dog will also continue with its training throughout its working life. 

There are enormous benefits to having a support dog in a school, including improved attendance and improved student engagement, as school life gains a new and positive element. The support dog has a calming effect on students, particularly those who have additional needs, as all students do at various stages of their school journey. Support dogs have been shown to contribute to significant reduction in stress levels. The presence of the school dog will help improve social interaction:, as students are happy to participate and interact within groups they normally wouldn't as they have a shared interest.  The support dog will motivate students to think and to learn about dogs and how to behave appropriately around them, becoming more caring and empathetic.  A support dog can simply be good company when needed, as there is no pressure on students to speak back and no requirement for eye contact when interacting with the dog, so students are at ease.

Preparing for our MCS dog is a powerful statement that Millstreet Community School is an inclusive school, reaching out to the specfic needs of all students in innovative ways.  Please consider donating to AADI at Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland if you want to help this initiative..