Therapy dog bow-wows students and teachers at Coloma Elementary

COLOMA, Mich. — A new employee joins the team at Coloma Elementary! Her name is Mavis, and she is a Blue Merle Smooth Coat Collie that is a certified therapy dog with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs.

She was certified in May and now starts her first year being fully integrated into the school. Mavis visits every Wednesday and will walk through the halls and visit with students during class.

This K-9 impacts students both mentally and emotionally by lending her helping paw. Principal Kelly Severin says, “But what she does for our kids is just what she does. It's incredible that she will just cuddle up to one and just sit and make a terrible day just be forgotten with no words, just a little cuddle, a little petting. She put her hand on her paw, and kind of held their hand. I mean, she just, she makes everything better.”

Mavis also helps in other departments, like educating students and staff on the safety measures to take when being introduced to a new dog. Natalie Contreras, ESL teacher and district coordinator says, “it teaches them about proper behavior around canines, how to approach, how to touch, how to ask permission to touch.”

Before the dog enters the classroom, students go over certain rules and chant “wavy to Mavy” to remind them to not pet her unless granted permission.

Mavis turns frowns upside down and also helps boost these kids' confidence. Severin explains, “they're walking a little prouder, walking a little taller, trying to like, hey, do you see me? Because it's not always just if you're having a rough day, there's also, hey, you're having a great day. Do you want some Mavis time? You know, there's both, and it's almost like they want Mavis to be proud of them. They want her to see them doing so well.”