Orlando School Uses Extra-Sensitive Dog As Counselor For Students

Orlando Sentinel ^ | November 9, 2007 | Susan Jacobson

[DogByte6RER]

Freedom Middle School

Orlando school uses extra-sensitive dog as counselor for students

Mr. Harv instinctively picks up on body language, facial expressions and tone of voice.

Susan Jacobson

Sentinel Staff Writer

November 9, 2007

When Mr. Harv goes to school, he spends his time playing ball, sitting on students' laps and lying down on the job.

It's all in a day's work for Harv, Freedom Middle School's unofficial mascot and Central Florida's only known full-time canine counselor.

At Freedom, every day is a dog day. Students greet Harv with hearty "hellos" and a vigorous belly rub. If there's a crisis at home or in the classroom, kids know they can visit Harv for a hug and a cry. Harv might lick them, but he won't judge them.

Cindy Frongello, Harv's handler, says the 3-year-old Labrador-golden retriever mix instinctively picks up on body language, facial expressions and tone of voice.

Researchers have studied dogs' ability to comfort people who are sick or stressed, but there's little more than anecdotal evidence backing claims that dogs react to mood. Nevertheless, Frongello is a believer.

"I'm 100 percent convinced that he has an ability to understand when someone feels bad and needs comfort," said Frongello, the school's Student Assistance and Family Empowerment coordinator. She helps kids with problems such as bullying, anger and bereavement. "He's a lot smarter than I am."

Harv was on the job Thursday when a visibly upset girl came to Frongello's portable classroom and flopped into a chair. Harv immediately left another student and hopped onto a seat next to the girl, gazing at her while she talked to Frongello, a psychologist.

Since arriving at the school in south Orange County last year, Harv has won over the students.

[Disambiguator]

The dog is thinking, "whadya have to eat?"

That's mostly what Labs are about. If you disagree with me I'll be forced to post some disgusting stories about Lab eating habits.

:^D

[southernnorthcarolina]

If the school used Brian (from the TV show Family Guy) as a couselor, he'd shake up a martini for any stressed-out kid.

[sarasmom]

Very much a step up, IMNSHO!

Of cource, if the vicious, dangerous, sociopathic, repeat offender, juvenile delinquents were sent to “alternative holding facilities” instead of normal public schools,(like we did in the old days) there would be far fewer “overwhelming problems” for "normal children" to contend with.