Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2)
As a fluffy poodle enters the classroom, students exclaim, “It’s Bear Bear!”
The dog is a “teacher” in the Professor Paws programme, in which therapy dogs help kids learn life skills. This is one of two animal-assisted programmes from an NGO called Animals Asia.
Therapy dogs like Bear Bear must be calm and obedient, and they take a strict exam before working with people.
Posties spoke to an Animals Asia worker and two volunteers to learn how animals can help people grow and learn.
A class unlike any other
In Professor Paws, students learn English by interacting with therapy dogs.
Karina O’Caroll, Animals Asia’s animal welfare education manager, said the programme was exciting for kids because it was different from their everyday classes.
“That excitement then translates to a willingness to learn,” she said.
Wong Hung-kuen is a volunteer and Bear Bear’s owner. He suggested that the first step in approaching a dog is watching how they act.
“Just stand and look. Don’t force the dog to approach you. Let the dog come to you,” Wong said. “If students are fearful, they can just sit wherever they feel comfortable.”
Dogs helping people
Animals Asia has another programme, Dr Dogs, in which therapy dogs support the well-being of groups in need such as orphans and the elderly.
Wong and his wife, Hung May-shann, said their most memorable Dr Dogs experience was from 2018.
“An elderly man was in a bad mood that day and didn’t want to talk with anyone. But when he saw Bear Bear, he spoke to her, and it turned out he was upset about his pillow,” Wong explained.
“Our dog was able to get that information and change the elderly man’s day,” Hung said.
Use the puzzle below to test your knowledge of the vocabulary words in the story.
Sample answers
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Before you read: They can give emotional support and reduce our stress.
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Think about it: They should be friendly, calm and well-behaved. They should enjoy being around people and not get scared or aggressive easily. It’s important for them to be gentle, so they can comfort those in need.
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Reflect: If I had a well-behaved dog that enjoyed working with people, I would definitely make it a therapy dog because it could change lives. It could also be a rewarding experience for me, my dog and the people in need. (answers may vary)
