Help Bring a Facility Dog to the STAR Program
For the past seven years, the students in Cape Cod Collaborative’s STAR Program have benefited from a very special member of the team—a therapy dog. Under the care of speech therapist Suzanne Greenberg-Carroll, this dog has been more than a pet; it’s been a source of motivation, comfort, and emotional support for students who benefit from having a calming, friendly presence in their learning environment. This dedicated therapy dog has helped students communicate more clearly, improve social skills, and manage challenging emotions. With Suzanne’s upcoming retirement, we want to ensure the continued presence of a therapy dog in the program by introducing a trained facility dog to meet our students’ needs.
The Need for a Facility Dog
A facility dog, unlike a therapy dog with a single handler, can work with multiple handlers and engage with students throughout the day. This flexibility will allow the dog to interact with and support students across classrooms, providing comfort, encouragement, and support during school hours. Each dog’s training is tailored specifically to meet the needs of the facility and population they will be working in/with.
Our Plan
After exploring various training organizations, we’ve found a promising partnership with Diggity Dogs Service Dogs in Greenfield, MA. Diggity Dogs has a robust training program designed for facility dogs that can handle diverse environments like ours. The journey from training to placement is a lengthy process, taking approximately 2-3 years, and it requires considerable financial resources.
How You Can Help
To bring this facility dog to the STAR Program, we need your support! The Cape Cod Collaborative Board has generously approved $10,000 toward this initiative, and now we’re seeking to raise the remaining $15,000 to fully cover the costs associated with training and care.
Your contribution can make a lasting difference for STAR Program students, allowing us to provide a resource
that encourages emotional resilience, social skills, and learning success!
Please click below to make a one-time or monthly donation via PayPal.
Thank you for helping us bring this incredible companion to the STAR Program!
