Henry Viscardi School welcomes Long Island’s first facility dog
Henry Viscardi School welcomes Long Island’s first facility dog
There’s a new puppy with a purpose joining the staff of the Henry Viscardi School on Long Island. Sunny is a one-and-a-half year-old yellow Labrador retriever that will play an important role at the school by helping students build social and emotional skills.
NEW YORK - There’s a new puppy with a purpose joining the staff of the Henry Viscardi School on Long Island.
Sunny is a one-and-a-half year-old yellow Labrador retriever that will play an important role at the school by helping students build social and emotional skills.
“They learn another level of empathy and a roundedness to life and that they learn how to get along with other people and other animals and other things. They learn compassion and caring,” said John Kemp, President & CEO of The Viscardi Center.
The Henry Viscardi School provides students with severe physical disabilities a traditional educational setting, and Sunny will assist them with things like opening doors, picking up pencils, opening drawers and generally offering a helping paw.
Sunny is from the Guide Dog Foundation, but is the first school facility dog on Long Island.
“I couldn’t imagine a better landing spot, impacting hundreds of kids every day, improving their lives and really making a difference,” said John Miller, President & CEO of the Guide Dog Foundation.