HOPE Therapy Dogs Leap into Service for LCCTC

When clouds of sadness darkened our halls and classrooms after the tragic loss of a friend this week, HOPE waited at our doors. Titus, Hank, and Stella—all registered therapy dogs—arrived with their handlers, ready to offer wagging tails, gentle leans, and quiet sighs of comfort as our students spent time with these furry, four-legged friends.

Alongside LCCTC Hall of Fame recipient Nessa Smith and her coworkers from Angelus Therapeutic Services Inc., HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response (AACR) provided comfort during a time of crisis by bringing emotional support through their specially trained canine-handler teams. Interacting with these calm, well-mannered dogs offered our students a simple yet powerful way to de-stress and share emotion, reminding them they were not alone.

Each dog brought comfort in their own special way. Titus, an English Labrador, offered gentle gazes from his soft brown eyes to anyone in need of reassurance. Hank, a Leonberger, was a towering bundle of gentle, leaning fluff who happily welcomed back scratches and head rubs. Stella, a bubbly goldendoodle, greeted each student with an enthusiastic tail wag and an uncanny ability to turn tears into smiles.

"We would like to thank HOPE Therapy Dogs and the counselors from Angelus Therapeutic Services for bringing calm, empathy, and HOPE to our staff and students during a time of immense sadness,” shares Principal Orelli. “The peace and calm brought by the four-legged counselors helped to bring much-needed light to one of our darkest moments." 

Together, these teams provided companionship, calm, and healing to students who needed it most. We sincerely thank HOPE AACR and Angelus Therapeutic Services Inc. for their kindness, compassion, and support during our time of grief.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in need of immediate help, please text HOME to 741741 for confidential support.