Considering therapy and literacy dogs
Some schools bring dogs into school, or have a permanent school dog to provide therapy. Animals can "bring comfort and happiness to people with a range of disabilities and emotional needs" according to Pets4Homes.
There are also programmes that bring dogs to schools so children can read to them without fear of judgement, such as the Bark and Read Foundation.
Do your research first
Before deciding to use a therapy dog, make sure you do as much research as you can. It's not without risks and challenges. You could speak to some of the organisations listed above, and visit any schools you know who use dogs in a similar way.
Carry out a risk assessment
Take a look at the examples below to help you write your own.
If you're using dogs for therapy, you should use a dog that has been assessed by an organisation such as Pets as
