Four-Footed Friend Brings Comfort to Students at Blue Hills Regional Technical School

As the new school year begins, students seeking a friend at Blue Hills Regional Technical School in Canton can find Luca the Comfort Dog, a one year old Golden Labradoodle, who has extensive training to provide support to the school community.

Luca follows in the footsteps of Enzo, the school's first comfort dog. After four years of service, Enzo passed away of Lymphoma in November last year. 

As a therapy dog, Luca is trained to provide affection, comfort, and support. Therapy dogs are used in settings such as schools, hospitals, assisted living and memory care facilities, libraries, hospice care, and during grief counseling and disaster relief efforts. Luca has completed three training and certification courses, and is currently enrolled in a fourth. The training includes learning not to be startled by loud noises, resisting the urge to eat dropped items, and remaining calm around strangers.

Photo courtesy of Blue Hills Regional Technical School. Luca the Comfort Dog plays with his ball in the school courtyard.

In the school setting, therapy dogs can help calm students who are upset. Therapy dogs can help students refocus, lift spirits and lessen depression, lower blood pressure, decrease feelings of isolation, relieve stress and anxiety, elevate mood and boost serotonin and dopamine levels, encourage children to take more risks in learning, and the list goes on.

"I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to bring another comfort dog to Blue Hills," said Superintendent-Director Rossetti. "Luca is such a charming, intelligent dog. I am confident that he will be an invaluable asset to the wellbeing of our students and staff."

Photo courtesy of Blue Hills Regional Technical School. Luca stays cool in his shades.

Thanks to Blue Hills Regional Technical School for contributing this news to Westwood Minute.

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