Twelve therapy dogs visited Wayne Hills High School in June for “Wellness Wednesday,” and dozens of students and staff came out to visit the cuddly pups, destress, and chat with their owners.

After more than a year of suspended visits during the pandemic, the

 dogs have more love than ever to share, and the students have been asking for them to return. When the CDC relaxed some restrictions in late spring, the dog handlers got busy scheduling as many school visits as possible during the last month of school.

BFFs Gavin and Muttley are two Shetland Sheepdog therapy dogs who live with their mistresses, Linda DeYoung and Karen Ciszewski-Quinn, in Wayne. They have been busy this June listening to classes read to them at Lafayette Elementary School; destressing students at both Wayne Hills High School and Wayne Valley High School; and visiting adults at Foundabilities (formerly Foundation for the Handicapped) which recently reopened after the pandemic. 

All of the therapy dogs are obedience-trained, and then evaluated, tested and certified with Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs of NJ, Inc.

Several area libraries are scheduling the dogs to listen to children read during this month, and many of the handlers hope to resume visits in senior living facilities soon.