At Mohonasen, therapy dogs have become a comforting and familiar presence for students and staff alike. With more than 10 certified therapy dogs visiting regularly across all grade levels, the district has embraced these furry companions as part of its commitment to student wellness and mental health support.
To help everyone get to know these special animals, the district will showcase a new therapy dog each week.
Gracie
Meet Gracie, an eight-year-old Golden who supports students and staff at Mohonasen High School, while sometimes making appearances throughout the district. Her owner, Robert Higgins, is a math teacher at MHS. He uses Gracie’s calm presence to give students a moment of peace during their busy day. Below is a Q&A with Mr. Higgins.
Q: What’s the most heartwarming moment you’ve experienced with your therapy dog?
A: On Gracie’s first visit to the Schenectady County Public Library, she helped with Paws for Reading. A grandmother was there with her elementary-aged grandson, who would not stop reading to Gracie. The grandmother was on the verge of tears because her grandson has a learning disability and does not like to read. He was openly reading aloud to Gracie because she was not judging how he read, just listening.
Q: Does your dog have any quirky habits that make people smile?
A: Gracie loves to be petted. She will not relent in having someone pet her. She will bury her head between your knees to rub behind her ears or heavily lean against you to remind you she is there and needs to be petted. During class, she will walk around the room and surprise students by putting her head on their lap with the intent that they pet her.
Q: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from your therapy dog?
A: What I think Gracie can teach everyone is that we are all people who need compassion and care. We all have our struggles, and no matter what, if we care for each other, we collectively lighten our loads. It does not take special skills or training to be nice to another person.
Q: How did you know your dog would be a good fit for therapy work?
A: Training Gracie to be a Therapy Dog was my son’s idea. When we picked her from the litter, while all the other puppies were yipping and biting, Gracie curled up in his lap and took a nap. Gracie’s mother is a seizure alert dog, so I think there might be some breeding thing here, too.
