Danvers Goes To The Dogs During MidTerms

DANVERS, MA — Mid-term exams during the last week of January at Danvers High School had a few special guests this year for the first time to help with the stress of the test takers.

DanversCARES, a community partnership focused on helping youth and families make healthy decisions, and administered through the schools invited representatives from Perfect Paws Pet Ministry and their certified therapy dogs to the school after classes ended on January 24. About 85 students took advantage of the opportunity to spend time with the dogs and their trainers as a way to take a few minutes away from studying and relax with the friendly pups.

Although this was the first time the therapy dogs were brought in to help kids relax as they prepare for exams, one of the elementary schools in town has a therapy dog visit on occasion, according to representatives.

The dogs were in the gym directly after school on Wednesday for an hour for students to come visit with them and talk to their trainers. And 85 participants had signed permission slips.

The program was a partnership between DanversCARES and the Perfect Paws Pet Ministry.

Photos courtesy DanversCARES

Captions to go with the photos above

Danvers High School freshmen, Jenna Kee and Abby Commins and junior, Sidney Santana, spend some time after school with Paxton, a West Highland white terrier from Perfect Paws Pet Ministry in the Vye Gym at Danvers High School.

Danvers High School sophomores Julie Ryan and Paige Wodarski and junior, Samantha Grenier are all smiles as they play with Rena, one of the Perfect Paws Pet Therapy dogs at the school to help reduce student’s stress during mid-term exams.

Sophomores Max Rudin, Brendan Carroll and Cory Thomaszewski enjoy some time in the Danvers High Vye Gym with Rena, one of the dogs from Perfect Paws Pet Therapy who came in for a visit.

Sofia Servizio, Ava Navarro, Cristina Servizio, and Lexi Cushman, all freshmen at Danvers High School, have fun with Paxton, a therapy dog from Perfect Paws Pet Therapy, as a way to release stress after the first day of the mid-term examination period.