Pawsitive Peers
School Dog Program
Meet our newest, four-legged Mustangs!
We’d like to introduce you to Ruby, Nemo, Aurora, Cooper, Coco, Lily, Sydney, Everest, & Meiko.
Mesa Public Schools (MPS) is in its third 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.
Hoomans had a quiz
Nemo was there to help!
Tuesday has Coco like...
zzzzz!
Nemo watching to see
who is the Mightiest Mustang!
Aurora hanging out with
the girls basketball today!
Sydney is on campus
today, ready to work!
It's National Puppy Day!
Ruby is on campus for pets & love.
Aurora says
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Being cute is exhausting!
Coco showing his best friend
Lily around campus!
First day back after spring break
Ruby is
Cup of coffee and a good book!
Coco is loving 9th grade English.
First day back after spring break
Ruby is
March is here
and Cooper is ready!
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
in uniform and ready to work.
Aurora is training to be a Dog-tor!
Ruby participating in Spirit Week
Go Bears!
Aurora
Being awesome is hard work!
Cooper
wants to be your Valentine!
Aurora
loves being on campus!
Nemo
First day of school!
Aurora
ready to learn CPR!
Ruby
Looking pretty on her first day!
Cooper
being very respectful during class!
Ruby
Ruby loves learning too!
Brenda & Cooper
Cooper is very popular!
Aurora and Chewy
Hoomans had a quiz
Tuesday has Coco like...
Nemo watching to see
Aurora hanging out with
Sydney is on campus
It's National Puppy Day!
Aurora says
Being cute is exhausting!
Coco showing his best friend
First day back after spring break
Cup of coffee and a good book!
First day back after spring break
March is here
Bat-dog showed up for DC/Marvel Spirit day!
Coco helping with
Nemo is Pretty in Pink
Ruby wearing pink for Spirit Week!
Coco
Aurora is training to be a Dog-tor!
Ruby participating in Spirit Week
Aurora
Cooper
Aurora
Nemo
Aurora
Ruby
Cooper
Ruby
Brenda & Cooper
Aurora and Chewy
Have donations?
Are you interested in donating dog supplies? Please click here and a staff member will reach out to you.