THE BIDGEE School welcomed its first furry four-legged staff member with open arms on Tuesday.
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Pupils with special needs at the Mitchelmore Street school were ecstatic to meet their newest friend and companion, 2-year-old trained labrador, Humphrey.
The canine will lend a helping paw to a number of students who are living with autism, post-traumatic stress disorder and other disabilities.
“Welcome to our school Humphrey, you’re a very smart, intelligent dog and I would like to say a big thank you for the support,” student Ariel Stoll said.
CEO of Assistance Dogs Australia Richard Lord is confident Humphrey will bring the best out of Bidgee’s bright learners.
“We’ve seen that by having a trained dog as a close companion, these kids are able to open up more, enjoy their schooling and improve their intellectual ability,” he said.
“Some kids have gone from not speaking a word, to becoming outgoing and really sociable after building close relationships with these dogs.”
