Survivors of the Parkland, Florida, high school shooting were greeted with therapy dogs when they returned to class for the first time since the massacre.
‘Today our therapy dogs welcomed the students back to school,’ tweeted the Humane Society of Broward County, on on Wednesday, along with photos of the students with the stress-relieving canines inside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
‘They participated in classes all day, made lots of new friends and provided unconditional love and comfort,’ the agency said, using the hashtag #MSDStrong.
‘It’s an honor to be part of the comfort and healing process at MSD with their amazing students, principal and faculty.’
Survivors of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting returned to class on Wednesday for the first time since the massacre and were greeted with therapy dogs
‘Today our therapy dogs welcomed the students back to school,’ tweeted the Humane Society of Broward County
According to the Humane Society, therapy dogs ‘work with a handler to provide affection and comfort to members of the public’
The students seemed to a big fan of the gesture, posting pictures with the pups on social media.
‘My first period class with our borrowed therapy dog, Woody,’ tweeted student Sarah Lerner.
According to the Humane Society, therapy dogs ‘work with a handler to provide affection and comfort to members of the public.’
This includes spending time with kids at libraries or schools and visiting people in hospitals and nursing homes.
The students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School seemed to a big fan of the gesture, posting pictures with the pups on social media
School board member Dr Rosalind Osgood told Local 10 News that the dogs would remain on campus for the foreseeable future
Therapy dogs will often spend time with kids at libraries or schools and visiting people in hospitals and nursing homes to bring comfort
‘My first period class with our borrowed therapy dog, Woody,’ tweeted student Sarah Lerner
Local school board member Dr Rosalind Osgood told Local 10 News that the dogs would remain on campus for the foreseeable future.
‘One mom said, ‘You know, everybody is here today, but how long will [the therapy dog program] take place?’ And I said, ‘As long as we need it to,” explained Osgood.
Teachers and students arrived early at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, their first day back after 19-year-old Nikolas Cruzilled 17 people with an AR-15 in a Valentine’s Day massacre that has profoundly altered the lives of survivors.
A long line of cars circled the school and dozens of television trucks and vehicles were camped out nearby as students, parents and staff were ushered through a security cordon, past a ‘Welcome Eagles’ banner and a walkway lined with flowers, photographs and other memorials.
Students returned to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School for the first time on Wednesday since the deadly school shooting two weeks ago that left 17 students and faculty dead
About 50 uniformed officers marched into the high school, just one aspect of the heavy security as classes resumed
Many of the returning students and staff members were seen hugging outside the school on Wednesday
About 50 uniformed officers marched into the high school, just one aspect of the heavy security as classes resumed.
Some were returning despite severe gun wounds but even those who weren’t hit by bullets spoke of emotional trauma.
The school, in the affluent Fort Lauderdale suburb of Parkland, opened its doors at 7.40am local time for a half-day schedule, though the building where most people died will remain closed indefinitely.