Dog Therapy Program

Written By Ewa Makai

We have a wonderful new service being added to Ewa Makai Middle School.  EMMS will be offering Dog Therapy Services one day a week for a couple hours, starting on September 21st. This program aims to provide various physical, psychological, and social benefits for students through the interaction with therapy dogs.

Benefits of Dog Therapy Services:

  • Decreases stress levels

  • Promotes relaxation

  • Increases positive social interaction

  • Enhances relationships

Therapy Dogs:

  • The therapy dogs participating in this program are trained by Hawaii Fi-Do, an organization accredited internationally by Assistance Dogs International, Inc.

  • These dogs have stable temperaments and friendly, easy-going personalities.

  • They are encouraged to interact with a variety of people while on duty.

  • They meet specific standards for certification and registration.

  • Labradoodle Therapy Dogs are used, which are Labradors and Poodles mixed to be allergy resistant since they do not shed..

Contact Information: If you have any questions about the EMMS Dog Therapy Program, you can reach out to the following individuals:

  • Dog Therapy Program Coordinator: Marie Aguilar

    • Email: marie.aguilar@k12.hi.us

    • Phone: (808) 687-6992

  • Vice Principal: Larisa Gadach

    • Email: larisa.gadach@k12.hi.us

    • Phone: (808) 687-9436

Participation: Participation in the EMMS Dog Therapy Program is voluntary, and students can choose freely whether to participate or not at any time. EMMS Dog Therapy Parent Opt-Out Form

This program offers a unique opportunity for students to benefit from the presence of therapy dogs, and it's great to see the school providing such a positive and supportive resource for its students.

Ewa Makai
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