We are delighted to announce that our two new school therapy dogs – Darwin and Murph – have officially arrived at Luttrellstown Community College and Coláiste na Tulchann!!
Following our successful application to My Canine Companion (MCC), a national Irish charity (RCN 20079147) – LCC recently received the fantastic news that the two young puppies were to be assigned as therapy dogs to our school.
Friday, September 20th, saw Darwin and Murph receive a warm and heartfelt welcome on their very first day at LCC; helping them to feel instantly at home in their new surroundings!
The School Therapy Dog Programme, developed by My Canine Companion, was the first of its kind in Ireland. Initially piloted in Munster in 2020, it now supports over 60 schools across the country. Research has consistently shown the positive impact therapy dogs can have in educational environments. Schools involved in this programme have reported significant improvements in wellbeing, mental health, anxiety levels, attendance, as well as staff and overall school morale.
Even in their first week at LCC, Darwin and Murph have created a wave of positivity throughout our whole school community. Some of our students took the time this week to discuss the effect that the dogs have had since their arrival:
Junior student Alex told us that “I love dogs. they just put a smile on your face every time you see them”. His fellow 1st Year classmate, Kate, added “They just make everyone feel loved…You try to get to school early to see if the puppies are there. If the dog is excited to see you, it makes you feel excited but also when they’re calm, it can make you feel calm too.”
Senior cycle student Samuel remarked that he “can really see the benefits of having them in the school already – The morale around the place has just risen right away – Everyone is so happy to have them about.”
The two dogs will continue to attend school and will have regular training sessions with MCC until they graduate as part of their School Therapy Programme; [You can view some of their fellow therapy dogs’ recent graduation on MCC social media here.]
Darwin and Murph will generally be accompanied by their handlers, who are designated members of LCC staff. The dogs will live with the handlers and, as they mature and complete further training, their involvement in school activities will gradually increase. The puppies will always be on a lead, and they will only interact with those who request it. LCC Board of Management has recently approved our School Dog Therapy Policy and associated Risk Assessment, which are published on our school website and contain more information in this regard. Please contact the school office if you have any questions or wish to notify the school about any concerns around your child’s interaction with the therapy dogs.
We welcome any assistance the community may be able to offer, whether through sponsorship or helping with the care and maintenance of our therapy dogs. If you are interested in contributing in any way, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via info@luttrellstowncc.ie . A massive thank you to those of you who have already contacted the school to offer your support.
To sum up the overall impact of Darwin and Murph on school life, Leaving Certificate student Sarah explains how–
“School can be stressful sometimes…and even though dogs don’t say anything, it’s just their presence. They don’t judge anyone, they just want to love everyone…If you’re having a bad day and you meet one of the dogs, they just want to get to know you and to say “hello. It really boosts your mood and I suppose, it actually helps you to feel better about yourself ”.
We are embarking on a truly exciting journey, and we couldn’t be more enthusiastic about the positive effect that this initiative will bring to our students and to our entire school community in the coming years.
Darwin is an energetic and affectionate Irish-Doodle and his buddy Murph is a playful,
yet quite laid-back, Golden Retriever. Both pups are 9 weeks old and are already great company for each other during the school day!