Therapy Dog Visits Present 'Myriad Of Concerns': School Superintendent

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —The schools superintendent has responded to the petition to bring a therapy dog back to a township elementary school., saying the visits open up a "myriad of concerns."

Samuel Lee, superintendent of the Bensalem Township School District, said that trained therapy dogs and their certified handlers have often come to schools for short visits on a scheduled periodic basis.

But those visits are "very different from the scenario" that the petition presents, Lee said.

More than 1,200 parents signed a petition for Phantom to return to Belmont Hills Elementary School, CBS Philadelphia reported.

Lee said that petition requests having the therapy dog in school for an entire day without a partnered insured handler. He said that goes against school liability policies.

"That situation presents a myriad of concerns, including allergies of some students, possible animal aggression, sanitation, or adverse physical and or emotional reaction by either students or adults," Lee said in a statement to Patch. "The safety and well-being of all of our students and staff remains a top priority."