Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Not only are they man's best friend, but some pups are working hard in schools across the Midlands to be a Healing Species.
"Some students think abuse is normal. It's normal life, it's what they've seen, it's what they've experienced," according to Adele Little, director of the Healing Species. "When we bring it out in the classroom, they realize 'this may not be normal what's happened to me'."
Students are finding that out through some teaching done with a dog named Beau, in hand.
The Healing Species founder Cheri Thompson remembers, "Bo literally, truly, was dumped on the side of the road."
Thompson picked up the pup and took him in. He is one of 12 dogs she has at her home.
"The dog is the magic in the classroom," says Little. "The dog can break down barriers in the classroom that a human can not. The dog can make the child comfortable to release and help a child share things that may not be comfortable to them."
Since the group started 11 years ago, they've spoken to more than 22,000 students across the Midlands. They speak out against bullying and abuse.
"If an animal can have that self-control, then our students can too. It shows that nobody is above learning, improving, and having that self-control," says Mellichamp Elementary Principle Hayward Jean, one of the schools participating in the program.
The dogs come from a sanctuary the organization opened when people started dropping off strays. They train some of the dogs to go into classrooms and put others up for adoption.
"If we have intervention now, we won't need it at the middle and high school levels," says Mellichamp Elementary Guidance Counselor Angela Burroughs. "When our children have the tools Healing Species provides for dealing with anger or a bad life of experience or circumstance, they're not out of the classroom being disciplined."
Studies done by the group show grades and test scores improving while the need for discipline goes down. Those same studies show out of school suspensions declining 55% for students in the program.
"Anybody can pick on somebody. That's easy. The harder thing to do is to walk away," reminds Little.
She says it's the same thing her four legged helpers who can show kids they can respond to conflict the same way.
The Healing Species is a registered non-profit that relies on individual and corporate donations for funding.
If you'd like to help The Healing Species in any way, or contact them about adopting a dog from their shelter, give them a call at (803) 535-6543 or email them at program@healingspecies.org.