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This beautiful golden retriever from Newtown stopped by The Chapel School on Wednesday, Jan. 14. Maggie is a trained comfort dog that interacts with people at schools, churches, disaster response situations and other events. She brings comfort and a calming influence to all those in her presence. Maggie has a busy schedule visiting hospitals, nursing homes, Sandy Hook students, and other schools. She was even brought to comfort those in Boston after the bombing at the 2014 marathon.
On Wednesday, each of Chapel School classes visited the library to pet Maggie and learn more about the wonderful work she does. The children watched a slideshow of Maggie in action, comforting those in various situations. They then had a question and answer session with her handlers. The students learned about Maggie’s sister, Addie, and other comfort dogs. Everyone who stopped by the library could feel her calming presence. As each class came into the library, they quietly sat down around her. “Maggie’s back,” “Oh, I just love her,” and “She is so sweet,” students exclaimed while walking into the library.
Maggie is three years old and received rigorous training as a puppy. Comfort dogs begin training when they are just a few weeks old. Puppies are selected based on their temperament and how they interact with people, other animals and strangers. “In a world with so much going on, it is great that Maggie is able to bring peace and calm to those she visits,” said one staffer. “Comfort dogs were placed in some airports over the holiday season. They help calm people down during the hectic, stressful times.” Maggie definitely had a positive impact on all the children of The Chapel School. “I can’t wait until she visits again.”
The Chapel School is located at 172 White Plains Road in Bronxville, New York. For more information about The Chapel School and its programs, please call (914) 337-3202 or visit the website at www.thechapelschool.org.
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