Canines For Change

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Facility Dogs

How are we involved?

Dogs in Schools

We are proud to be one of the few organizations who provide highly trained dogs to work in schools. These dogs work with children of all ages with a variety of academic, social and emotional needs. Our volunteers and trainers have extensive knowledge working in schools — we have several retired teachers on staff who help train the facility dogs in our Dogs In Schools program, along with our trainers who train service dogs for children who attend school and have special needs. Our executive director is uniquely qualified to run this program with her 20 plus years as a school psychologist working in an inner-city school district. We now have placed Facility Dogs in Grand Ledge, Portland and Jackson, with East Lansing and Potterville coming soon!

Want to help puppies become service dogs? Apply and become a puppy raiser!

hOW DOES THIS SUPPORT OUR MISSION?

Facility dogs are trained to do specific tasks and work alongside their handlers as a team.  Their skills help improve the lives of the clients they work with.  They work in schools, hospitals, dentists offices and a variety of other facilities to support the mental health of those who are there. The are trained to do general tasks for any person in the facility such as laying over a persons lap (cuddle), roll large dice to aid in engagement with student lessons, maintain a close stay for long periods of time with numerous people around them and various other tasks.    

DAY TO DAY TASKS AND HOW THEY HELP:

  • Facility dogs can be signed out to specific classrooms or teachers throughout the day.

  • Facility dogs are available to students/staff who may need academic, social or behavior intervention.

  • Facility dogs greet students as they arrive each day and say good-bye to them as they leave.

  • Facility dogs provide a sense of comfort to all students and staff.

  • They also help with increased academic engagement & skills

  • Can help decrease suspension rates

  • Decrease rates of school violence.

  • Increase resiliency, decrease depression and anxiety

Our Mission

where can you find us?

  • GRAND LEDGE PUBLIC SCHOOL K-12

  • NORTHWEST FACILITY DOGS (NORTHWEST COMMUNITY SCHOOLS)

  • PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL K-12

  • MASON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

  • CHARLOTTE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

  • INGHAM ACADEMY

  • PORTLAND ST. PATS CATHOLIC SCHOOL K-8

  • MUSKEGON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

  • GODWIN HEIGHTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

  • EAST LANSING PUBLIC SCHOOLS K-12

  • OKEMOS PUBLIC SCHOOLS K-12

  • POTTERVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS K-12 

  • EATON COUNTY 911- “Hutch”

  • CALHOUN COUNTY 911- “Hope”

Check us out in action!

Two students enjoying the Doodle Time they earned as a reward in class! Miggz loves it too!

Meet Miggz! He is a facility dog at Northwest Elementary School and supports his classmates all day by hanging out with them during math, going to gym with them, and always lending a head to pet. 

Want to see us in real time? Check out our Facebook!

Facebook
Gravy supporting a student at Grand Ledge High School
Sandee supporting her students the best way she knows at Wacousta Elementary School!

Testimonials about Canines for Change