West Jeff Middle School loving life with Archie the therapy dog

Four hundred and forty.


By counselor Dan Keane’s count, that’s how many times West Jefferson Middle School students pet Archie, the new therapy dog, during the course of one school day.

Though Archie, a 5-year-old golden retriever, hasn’t been part of the West Jeff family for long, he fits right in.

“I’ve seen the value of what a therapy dog can provide for kids that are struggling and just having a rough go, especially kids with anxiety,” he said.

“He had quite a calming effect on kids in various different situations,” Keane added. “And adults, too. That’s one thing I’ve noticed, especially being in the school district, is I think staff get just as much benefit from the therapy dogs as the kids do.”

Read more here: www.canyoncourier.com/content/west-jeff-...e-archie-therapy-dog
By Deborah Swearingen
Wednesday, October 16, 2019