Paws for a Cause

DuPage Paws for People’s therapy dog teams support students with vision and hearing loss

By Valerie Hardy

A dog may be a man’s best friend, but it can also be one of a child’s best teachers. This has been the case within the School Association for Special Education in DuPage County (SASED) classrooms serving children with vision and hearing impairments.

It all started during the 2012-2013 school year when a few registered therapy dogs and their handlers voluntarily visited two SASED vision-impaired classrooms. These visits were enjoyable and rewarding for the students, teachers, and therapy dog teams alike, so they continued and expanded to additional classrooms and schools.

Charlotte Keane, an Elmhurst resident whose dogs were credentialed as therapy animals through Pet Partners (a national pet therapy registration organization), learned about the partnership between these therapy dog teams and the SASED classes. Keane was at a veterinarian appointment for her black cocker spaniel, Sláinte, who had deteriorating eyesight and had to wear protective goggles outside. The vet mentioned that his wife, also a veterinarian, visited with children with vision loss in their classrooms. He said, “It would be great if you and your dog could go too,” Keane recounted, given that Sláinte shared vision challenges similar to the students’.

The vet’s recruiting efforts were effective. Keane soon connected with the vet, Dr. DiGiacomo, and under her mentorship, in 2014, Keane and Sláinte also began visiting SASED classes for students with vision impairments. In 2015, the growing group of volunteer therapy dog teams adopted the name DuPage Paws for People.

Keane, now the organization’s president, explained the importance of therapy dog visits. “They motivate kids and inspire kids – socially and emotionally,” she said.

One of Keane’s favorite moments from Sláinte’s and her visits involved a little boy named Lincoln. He was of preschool or kindergarten age, and he had just gotten safety glasses, which he needed but hated. To encourage Lincoln to wear his glasses, Keane proposed a deal: “If Sláinte wears her glasses, will you wear your glasses in class?” she asked.

Lincoln proceeded to put on his glasses, and “it was the cutest thing,” Keane explained. “He and Sláinte went nose to nose and checked out each other’s glasses. She kissed him, and he hugged her. They both kept their glasses on for the rest of the day.”

“They motivate kids and inspire kids – socially and emotionally.” – Charlotte Keane, President of DuPage Paws for People, about therapy dogs

Sadly, a couple of years ago, Sláinte died just shy of her 14^thbirthday. However, her impact lives on. After her passing, people who knew Sláinte kept asking Keane if they could donate to DuPage Paws for People in her memory. Keane told them no because the organization was not an official nonprofit, to which some asked in response, “Why not?”

Thus, in 2023, DuPage Paws for People of Illinois became a State of Illinois registered 501(c)(3) organization, and with the donated funds it has received, including a contribution from Elmhurst’s 100+ Women Who Care in February, it continues to grow. Today, DuPage Paws for People serves students with hearing loss as well as those with vision loss from preschool through high school.

Though it may look different depending on the needs and ages of the students involved, Keane described a typical therapy dog team visit. The students usually sit in a circle or semi-circle, and the handler, with the dog, goes around, greeting each child and asking them how they are doing. “It is great practice at communication and socialization,” Keane said.

Some of the dogs do tricks, she added, and the students can decide if they would like the dog to perform a trick for them. The handler may also ask if the students would like to learn to brush the dog or if they would simply like to pet it. “Some of the dogs are just giant rugs, and the kids are just little hands all over them,” Keane said, noting that petting the dogs “releases endorphins and destresses” the students.

DuPage Paws for People also made custom short leashes printed with their logo, and the children may help the handler take the dog on a walk through the classroom or down the hallway. “Kids love to have responsibilities,” Keane said. “It gives them great confidence.”

The visits take place on Fridays and last approximately 30 minutes. The organization’s 15 therapy dogs and their handlers visited upwards of 100 children this year. However, Keane explained that the average active length of service for a therapy dog is only three years. Accordingly, DuPage Paws for People’s goal is to recruit more therapy dog teams in order to “say yes to everybody and do more visits,” Keane said.

Perhaps one of these future recruits is Keane’s own pet pup: a two-year-old Havanese, who she said is “too much of a puppy now to be a therapy dog, but hopefully someday.”