Retired after a short racing career,
Sierra now works as a canine staff member
at St. Vincent de Paul Elementary School.

Was that a greyhound I saw at school?
Yes, that is Sierra, a retired racer, who is a certified therapy dog. Mrs. Jane Campbell, the school's computer tech, trained with Sierra to become a certified therapy team to work at schools, nursing homes, hospitals and libraries. Sierra accompanies Mrs. Campbell to St. Vincent de Paul School every morning.

Why would we want to have a dog at school?
Research shows positive benefits to animal-assisted therapy. Omaha-area schools (OPS, Millard, Elkhorn, Papillion-LaVista and Plattsmouth) have 13 Edu-PUPS teams and Lincoln Public Schools have 18 Edu-PUPS teams working with students. Schools across the country are finding out what nursing homes and hospitals already have discovered: the unconditional love of dogs greatly benefits both children and adults. Therapy dogs can help improve attendance; provide a calming effect; provide incentives to meet behavioral and academic goals; increase confidence; increase test scores; lower blood pressure; help overcome a fear of dogs; and encourage acceptance of appearance differences.

How is this different from a pet dog at school?
Sierra is a pet but she was specially selected for her personality and temperament. Mrs. Campbell trained with a Lincoln-based organization called Domesti-PUPS, which trains therapy and service dogs for schools, nursing homes, libraries and persons with disabilities. Sierra attended training classes, passed both obedience and therapy testing, and completed six months of on-the-job training to earn her certification in December 2005.

So we have a dog running wild at school?
Sierra doesn't run around inside the school building. She is with her trainer, Mrs. Campbell, or another qualified adult handler at all times. Her job is to greet students and accept pets or hugs from anyone who wants to give them. She also listens to students who read to her, and helps out whenever needed in classes. Teachers like to use her for behavior and academic incentive programs. A classroom visit from Sierra is a special treat!

My child is terrified of dogs!
That's OK. Sierra will not approach anyone who doesn't want to be approached. Students can walk around her or ignore her. She's very calm and will not jump or bark. Once children see how gentle she is, they can learn how not to be afraid. Students will never be forced to be near her or touch her.

What about children with allergies?
Domesti-PUPS has consulted pediatricians, allergists and veterinarians who agree that students with pet allergies can avoid problems by not petting or standing near Sierra. If they do decide to pet her, they should wash their hands immediately after touching her. If your child has severe allergies, you no doubt realize how just the dander on the clothes of a dog owner sitting nearby can bother him. Greyhounds are among the least allergenic dogs because they have no undercoat and little dander. Sierra will not be allowed in classrooms if students have bad pet allergies. Please tell your child's teacher if your child should not be around Sierra.

Is my child at risk of being bitten?  
No, both Sierra and the children will always be supervised. Dog bites happen when children and dogs are left unsupervised. Sierra is not like the cute dog next door who bit the neighbor's child. Sierra's behavior and reactions are constantly under supervision. As part of the temperament testing, she was poked, prodded, pinched, fallen onto, startled with loud noises and had food pulled away while eating. She passed each test with flying colors. Any sign of aggression at home, school or during therapy visits would immediately disqualify her from the program and she would not be allowed back to school.

More about Domesti-PUPS
Domesti-PUPS is a 501(c) volunteer-based organization headquartered in Lincoln, Neb. The Domesti-PUPS mission is to improve the quality of life for persons with special needs through the assistance of animals and to promote awareness through education. Domesti-PUPS provides service dogs for persons with disabilities, pet therapy programs, classroom dogs and educational programs.

Have any concerns?
Please contact Mrs. Jane Campbell at 492.2111 with your questions or concerns.