Returning to school was an emotional challenge for many children in Uvalde, Texas, as they stepped back into classrooms on Tuesday, CNN reported. For some, it was their first time in a school setting since the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary on May 24, 2022, which claimed the lives of 19 students and two teachers.
“I'm so scared and shocked after what happened at my old school, and I'm still scared and nervous,” fourth-grader Zeke Wyndham told CNN. “I can still hear the gunshots.”
To help students cope with the difficult transition, the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District partnered with the Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry, a program that provides emotional support through trained golden retrievers.
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The organization placed 10 dogs across eight schools in the district, with some stationed outside to greet students and others waiting in counselors' offices for those who needed extra support.
“As the kids settle into their routine, the counselors will guide us on where the dogs are needed most,” Bonnie Fear, the ministry’s crisis response coordinator, told CNN. “Our goal is simply to be there for those who are hurting, offering comfort in whatever way they need.”
The dogs provide a pressure-free way for students to express their emotions, allowing them to interact at their own pace.
“We're trained to be quiet. We don't do a lot of talking,” Fear explained to KSAT. “We want the students to connect with the dogs and let that help them process their emotions.”
This isn’t the first time the comfort dogs have been in Uvalde. The ministry previously deployed them in the days following the tragedy, offering much-needed emotional support to students. Their presence helped many children feel more at ease when returning to school.
Research has shown that therapy dogs can reduce stress and foster a sense of connection in challenging situations. Unlike service dogs, which assist individuals with specific needs, therapy dogs are trained to provide emotional support in schools, hospitals, and other community settings. Studies indicate that their presence can trigger oxytocin (the “trust hormone”) while reducing cortisol (the stress hormone), helping people feel more at ease.
In schools, therapy dogs have been found to encourage attendance, reduce tardiness, and help students open up in counseling sessions.
For many children in Uvalde, this school year will be a difficult one, but the presence of these comfort dogs offers a small yet meaningful source of support. By bringing in the K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry, the district is helping students feel a little safer, a little calmer, and a little more ready to face the school year ahead.