The ELC was filled with smiles, giggles, and wagging tails during a special visit from Love on a Leash, a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading joy through therapy pets. A therapy pet’s primary role is simple but powerful: to brighten someone’s day. These specially trained animals visit as part of a volunteer team with their owners, offering comfort, companionship, and stress relief in a variety of settings.
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Did you know therapy pets can also support physical and educational goals? Petting or walking a dog can help increase mobility, while reading to an animal may boost a child’s confidence and willingness to participate. During the visit, students practiced gentle interactions and experienced the calming presence of these amazing animals.
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The pups brought moments of calm, joy, and connection, creating smiles for staff and students alike and reminding everyone of the power of a wagging tail and a friendly nuzzle. Just look at the smile on Ms. Karen’s face!
As part of our Pet Study, children are learning that caring for animals, real or pretend, helps build empathy, responsibility, and social-emotional skills. Whether it’s a real live pet or a stuffed animal, families are encouraged to let preschoolers play with, read to, make silly faces at, and show love to their pets.
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We extend a heartfelt paw as a thank you to Maureen Ligeski and the South Side Chicago Love on a Leash Team for visiting the ELC and sharing their time and furry friends with our students and staff. We’re excited to welcome them back for additional visits over the next month as our Pet Study continues and learning comes to life—one paw at a time!