PAWSitive Peers
School Dog Program
Meet our newest, four-legged Mustangs!
Come January 2020, some of our newest Mustangs will have four legs, not two! We’d like to introduce you to Ruby, Nemo, Aurora, Cooper, and Coco. Lily, Everest, Sirius, & Sydney are coming too in just a few short months!
Mesa Public Schools (MPS) is in its second year participating in the Pawsitive Peers Foundation School Dog Program developed by North Shore Animal League America using the Mutt-i-grees® Curriculum. The district has partnered with the Arizona Humane Society, the Arizona Animal Welfare League, and Maricopa County Animal Care and Control to identify compatible shelter dogs for school staff to adopt and have trained. Participating MPS staff and their dogs must pass obedience and therapy training and are tested and approved by the Pet Partners® Therapy Animal Program.
The Mutt-i-grees® Curriculum, written by Yale University, will be used to incorporate lessons on social and emotional learning, resilience, empathy, and the human-animal bond. Students may also interact directly with dogs for more individualized learning opportunities. Additionally, these dogs can serve as a trusted companion in the counseling, nursing, or the administrative offices for crisis intervention, behavioral de-escalation, or simply to address stress, anxiety, and/or isolation.
Cup of coffee and a good book!
Coco is loving 9th grade English.
March is here
and Cooper is ready!
Coco and Benda looking
towards the weekend.
Bat-dog showed up for DC/Marvel Spirit day!
Coco helping with
Assembly Day!
Nemo is Pretty in Pink
Spirit week strong!
Ruby wearing pink for Spirit Week!
Coco is in uniform
and ready to work.
Aurora is training to be a Dog-tor!
Coco is ready to be a
Mustang!
Ruby participating in Spirit Week
Go Bears!
Taking a break.
Being awesome is hard work!
Is it time to go yet?
Cooper wants to be
your Valentine!
Aurora loves
being on Campus!
Meet Coco!
Nemo
First day of school!
Aurora ready to learn CPR!
Ruby resting up...
to be ready for class today!
Aurora
Sweet and happy!
Ruby
Looking pretty on her first day!
Cooper is
being very respectful during class!
Ruby
Ruby loves learning too!
Brenda & Cooper
Cooper is very popular!
Aurora and Chewy
Aurora making new friends!
Meet Sydney
Coming soon to Dobson!
Cup of coffee and a good book!
March is here
Coco and Benda looking
Bat-dog showed up for DC/Marvel Spirit day!
Coco helping with
Nemo is Pretty in Pink
Ruby wearing pink for Spirit Week!
Coco is in uniform
Aurora is training to be a Dog-tor!
Coco is ready to be a
Ruby participating in Spirit Week
Taking a break.
Is it time to go yet?
Cooper wants to be
Aurora loves
Meet Coco!
Nemo
Aurora ready to learn CPR!
Ruby resting up...
Aurora
Ruby
Cooper is
Ruby
Brenda & Cooper
Aurora and Chewy
Meet Sydney
Have donations?
Are you interested in donating dog supplies? Please click here and a staff member will reach out to you.