Sports Editor
This past month, LGHS gained five new furry friends: Suki, Sundance, Zuzu, Fern, and Ranger Freckles. The Los Gatos Lions Club generously donated funds to the Wellness Center to partner with Paws to Share.
Paws to Share’s mission is to bring people and pets — both dogs and cats — together. Owners can register to be handlers and bring their pets to K-12 schools, universities, offices, and senior facilities. Paws to Share looks for pets that are loving and engaging, show no signs of reactivity or aggression, and most importantly, bring smiles to faces.
Mariana Cozzella, the Wellness Center Coordinator, notes that the center has wanted to set up visits by dogs for a while. The dogs began showing up during the week of Nov. 27 and plan to continue through the school year. Cozzella noted that she has “been witness to the amazing things dogs can do. When students are having panic attacks or are in distress, the dogs really help with that…Dogs have their magic.” She mentioned how students are eager to engage with the friendly dogs, something invaluable in stressful school environments.
Although the dogs have only been on the clock for less than a month, the foot traffic to the Wellness Center has increased. Students are welcome to visit the dogs during the lunch period, and especially when the dogs are out for walks!
On Mondays and Wednesdays, the golden doodles Fern and Zuzu come with their owner. On Tuesdays, students can stop by and sit with Suki, a golden retriever. Another golden retriever, Sundance, visits on Thursdays. Lastly, Ranger Freckles, a loveable “rescue mystery mutt” visits on Fridays. Cozzella highlights how they all have different personalities; some dogs want to play and play, while others are puddles of love.
Owner Laurie Turner handles Sundance, who loves to cuddle with students, characterized by an unmissable smile. Sundance is a recent graduate from his therapy dog class, where an instructor recommended Turner to apply for Paws to Share. Along with his visits to LGHS, Sundance also works at an elementary school nearby. Sundance’s energy is contagious: “Students notice how he smiles, and then they start smiling too. He gets a lot of hugs because he is so big and huggable…He definitely wants to talk to people,” Turner notes. She says that before his second visit, she was “unsure if he was still excited to come, but he could not wait to get in the car, could not wait to get into the building.”
The Wellness Center is extremely grateful for their five new employees, and they are all super excited to meet LG’s students!
Categories: Local News