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Cameron is no ordinary dog, and not just because he was born on
Valentine's Day. To Maggie, a first grader at Burgundy Farm Country Day School,
the dog who spends most days on campus is more like a friend. When Cameron is
near, Maggie feels "really, really, happy," she said, "I feel
safe around him, she added." "He'll lie down and ask me to scratch
his tummy," she explained, because Cameron likes Maggie.
Cameron is one of a handful of dogs at Burgundy, a K-8 private day
school in Alexandria, Virginia. Dogs started showing up there when the head of
school, Jeff Sindler, brought his clumsy Labrador, Luke, to the main office
building where Sindler works. After Luke died, Sindler adopted Cameron and
brought him to campus, too, where the dog Maggie described as really cute"
became a school favorite.
"They don't care if you are good at basketball or a great reader,
or popular," Sindler said. "They just want to be loved—equal
opportunity," he added. "Cameron and the other dogs on campus—are
always fastened with a rope and with their owner—go a long way toward
improving students' social and emotional well-being," he said. They reduce
tension and ease anxiety, and inspire happy feelings from students.
"They bring out some important emotions/' he said, "and are
especially helpful to children and adults who struggle in social communication,
Children often came from challenging backgrounds: many lived in poverty, or had
to travel through dangerous neighborhoods to get to school, or shared a
too-crowded home. When these emotionally needy children met the dogs, they
relaxed and were more prepared to learn.
Just as important, dogs on school grounds set a positive, welcoming
tone. They help preserve the school climate that is accepting, supportive and
curious・"Dogs are one way to
hold on to Sindler said, adding that "schools should be fun and exciting,
and dogs can be a big part of that."
For Sindler, including Cameron was all part of an effort to create a
safe environment where learning could flourish.