North Huron School Welcomes “Chipper the Service/Therapy Dog”

Chief “CHIPPER” PAWS – PROVIDING ALL WARRIORS SUPPORT

North Huron School District has its very own Service/Therapy Dog on campus for all students Pre-K through 12. Mrs. Souva, the art teacher at North Huron, researched and chose the best breed to fit our needs. Chipper, a sixteen-week-old Golden Mountain Doodle helps students build confidence and is able to detect and assist students and faculty during stressful times. This helps students become more successful at learning while at school. Therapy dogs are dispensers of unconditional love and affection. He is undergoing therapy/service dog training and will take a Canine Good Citizen test. This test will include learning how to come when called, sit, down, stay and how to react appropriately to friendly strangers and other dogs. Chipper will get to be around 70 pounds when full grown.

Students submitted names for the dog and Chipper was chosen. Chipper is extremely calm and can even be seen with his head in the laps of students. He is hypoallergenic and does not shed. The dog lives with the Souva’s and travels with Mrs. Souva throughout the day as she visits all classrooms to teach art. Mrs. Souva has educated and worked with students prior to the arrival of Chipper. The students have learned the responsibilities of having a therapy/service dog in the classroom. Each class has a student activity chart, which lists the jobs that need to be done by students throughout the day.

In the short time that Chipper has been at North Huron the students and staff have fallen in love with him and he is totally content and calm around all students and staff. The greatest gift Chipper has given North Huron is that he has lifted the morale of everyone on our campus. He brings smiles and nonjudgmental comfort to everyone   he encounters. Chipper brings out the best in us all. Students will often share feelings with him that they may not be comfortable sharing with another adult or friend. It is truly amazing to watch and feel the love and patience, which Chipper has brought to our   school. He has energized the students and staff and has helped us all feel calmer and more peaceful throughout this difficult time.

THANK-YOU CHIPPER FOR BECOMING PART OF THE NORTH HURON FAMILY!    
YOU HAVE ADDED SO MUCH TO OUR SCHOOL EACH AND EVERY DAY!