By Michele Cucinotta, DFC Coordinator, Barnegat Schools
Our therapy dog program began with a shitzhu named Tink at the Lillian M. Dunfee Elementary School in 2016. Tink was used for specific students for a variety of reasons, such as anxiety, building communications skills, working on behavior issues, and more.
![](https://www.njea.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Winnie.Tink_.jpg)
Tink, who was owned by Joann Fedorczyk of Barnegat, was trained as a therapy dog through Canine Good Citizenship (CGC) and Therapy Dog Program. Winnie, a maltese shitzhu mix, started as a puppy by following Tink’s lead for two years before Tink retired at age 14. Both worked at Dunfee until the pandemic shut them down on March 13, 2020.
![](https://www.njea.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Winnie.jpg)
Beginning during the 2021-22 school year, Winnie Wednesdays have had a huge impact on helping the students readjust to in-person learning and managing the stress that goes along with the long-running pandemic. In addition, we expanded the program and Winnie now visits two schools in the district, and two other dogs have joined the program and are visiting five schools.
![](https://www.njea.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/T2A4501-683x1024.jpg)
The program has been a huge success and has led to many positive outcomes for students. It has helped to discourage absenteeism and has created a warm and friendly environment. Students and staff have really responded to the program; the boost they get from petting Winnie or just seeing her in the halls has a lasting and exponential effect on morale in our schools.
Take it from Barnegat, every school should have a therapy dog like Winnie!