Students think their rescue dog is just Finn-tastic
FINN the rescue dog who has been enrolled as school mascot at St Vincent’s Secondary School is becoming something of a superstar.
The handsome Labrador pup is leaving his paw mark on history as possibly the first therapy dog in a main stream school in Ireland.
Principal Deirdre Matthews explained that the cute puppy has won a place in the hearts of all the students and staff as he greets them at the school gate.
‘You can’t look at him without having a smile on your face! It’s amazing how the girls love him. It’s so uplifting to have him around the school.’
She explains that Finn will also play a role in the Caring for Animals module as part of the new Junior Cycle Wellbeing programme
‘He is very much part of our well-being programme as he is going to be part of the module on caring for animals. Every class will have a couple of weeks learning how to care for animals and see what is involved in looking after and training a dog.’
The cute pup has definitely landed on all four paws, having being taken in by Dundalk Dog Rescue when he was just eight weeks old after he was abandoned with his mother and the rest of the litter.
Following a time in foster, Finn joined the team at St Vincent’s when the new school year got underway in September.
‘ The school has always supported Dundalk Dog Rescue through fund-raising and getting a therapy dog is something we had been looking at for a while,’ added Deirdre.
While it’s not unusual for schools in the UK to have therapy dogs, Deirdre says she is not aware of any other mainstream school in Ireland that has one.
Finn is looked after by Deputy Principal Fiona Baxter and goes to school with her each day, where he visits different classrooms and has accompanied the girls to St Helena Park as part of their PE sessions. When he’s not on duty, he sleeps in his bed in her office.
He is also having his own lessons, as he being trained by the well-known local dog trainer Joanna Byrne from Problem Paws.