In February 2019, a tragedy hit Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. An expelled student forcibly entered the school premise and opened fire to anyone. This incident killed 17 students and injured 17 others. As a result of the crime, the event was tagged as the gruesome and deadliest school shooting in history. A few months after the incident, students are still traumatized. As a means of comforting their students, the school management hired therapy dogs.
It is a known fact that therapy dogs can comfort people who suffer from emotional and mental anguish. This is why the students felt better and safe when the school administration hired therapy dogs. The therapy dogs came from all over the country.
The trauma wrought by the incident could not be washed away entirely. So, the school administration understands if some students still feel unsafe within the school premises. The school administration believes that the presence of therapy dogs at least alleviates the emotional trauma that their students had.
True enough, some students are opening up with the problem. One of the students is William Olson, a survivor of the incident. According to Olson, he is afraid to go back to school after the mass shooting. The whole incident is still vivid in his memory, and whenever he thinks of it, Olson gets anxious.
But with the help and presence of therapy dogs, Olson starts to trust again. He said that while the dog gives additional security to them, it is their presence that he appreciates the most. For one, these dogs are available to play with and hug whenever he feels lonely.
The therapy dogs likewise remind Olson that he goes to school to learn and not to feel unsafe. Olson said that moving forward is difficult, but he will try his best to overcome the trauma he had due to the mass shooting incident.
Credits to Aerie Yearbook.
