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Hamilton Community Foundation will fund therapy dogs for every Hamilton City school
Summary
Bob Long announced a Hamilton Community Foundation grant that will fund a three‑year program to place certified therapy dogs in every Hamilton City school building, covering six additional dogs and building on existing therapy dogs Arrow and Tango.
Bob Long of the Hamilton Community Foundation announced that the foundation’s Board of Trustees has unanimously approved a grant to fund therapy dogs for every Hamilton City school building, beginning next school year.
“This morning, I’m very pleased to tell you the Community Foundation Board of Trustees unanimously has agreed to provide a grant that will ensure every Hamilton school building will have its own therapy dog next school year,” Long said, adding the grant will cover the three‑year funding cycle needed for six additional dogs. The program builds on the district’s existing dogs, including Arrow, and will add Tango and others as the program expands.
Superintendent Andrea Blevins called the foundation’s commitment “a proactive strategy” to support student well‑being. She said therapy dogs help reduce anxiety and stress and that the foundation’s support means the district will not use general fund dollars for the initiative. “Through community donations, through different agencies, we’ve been able to raise the money completely so that not 1 district dollar is being used for this,” Blevins said.
District staff described how therapy dogs provide comfort and emotional regulation for students and staff, and explained plans to onboard four to five dogs per year until each building has one. The program was developed in partnership with local businesses, school PTOs, student councils and nonprofit partners; the district cited research on reduced anxiety and improved attendance and behavior associated with school therapy‑dog programs.
The board heard remarks from program partners and school staff about quick, practical benefits: calmer students in the hallway, children seeking out time with the dogs for comfort and staff reporting reduced stress during busy days. The foundation’s grant also complements other local efforts, such as mini grants for teachers and donations supporting classroom supplies.
The announcement followed a spotlight period of community recognitions and came before routine business on the agenda; the board did not take a separate vote on the foundation grant during the meeting.
What’s next: school and foundation staff said they expect to begin onboarding dogs this spring and summer, with a roll‑out plan to prioritize buildings in need and to work with training and certification partners.
