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Animals light up teachers’ lives and help them through isolation
We asked teachers to send in pictures of their pets along with an explanation of how the animal helps them in their profession.
RUSTY BEAR
Rusty gives me kisses, cuddles and love whenever I’m with him and is the best companion. He comes on runs and hikes mountains with me.
Rusty helps with my wellness. I always feel happy when he’s by my side. Just walking in the door to my house and being greeted by him is the best way to come home and instantly helps me feel better. Life has definitely improved since he came into my life just at the start of COVID-19, and I can’t imagine a life without him.
Adriana Klassen
Vice-principal
St. Timothy School, Cochrane
SCOUT
Scout is named after the main character in To Kill a Mockingbird, a favourite of mine. The main character is feisty, intelligent, sassy, brave and devoted to her family. My Scout has these qualities. Last summer, Scout traveled with me by air to the Yukon. We hiked several challenging trails together!
Some days in the profession can be challenging and mentally exhausting. Scout is waiting for me when I get home and we walk almost daily. Every person we meet along the way stops to chat and comment on Scout’s amazing ears! My office is surrounded with photos of us together. My students will come to the office, and we will share stories about our pets. It’s an amazing relationship-builder.
Scout’s happy demeanour and love of squeaky toys helps me in my profession because shouldn’t we all be reminded to be happy and play every day?
Alva Holliday
Principal
West Country Outreach School, Rimbey
PRIMROSE
Primrose is a cancer survivor. She has a unique patch of white fur on her back caused by radiation treatment and she wears it proudly. She was diagnosed with feline fibrosarcoma in October 2020 and was given one to three years to live. The doctors did not believe they would be able to fully remove her tumour, but we are so thankful that after 18 radiation treatments and an additional surgery, there are no cancer cells left in her body!
Prim keeps me calm during long evenings spent at my computer doing lesson planning and report cards. Her favourite chair is my office chair. When I have to move her so that I can sit there, she jumps back up and curls up on my lap, purring while I do my work. Sometimes she even sits right on my laptop! I can’t imagine life without her.
Melissa Tran
Grade 1
Citadel Park School, Calgary
ROXY
My two dogs Jax and Roxy are both rescues that came from a high-kill shelter in Texas. They were a bonded pair when we adopted them two years ago and have added such joy and positive energy to our family’s life. They certainly help with physical and mental wellness, as we are out walking them a couple times a day after some of those long, tiring days at school.
Leslie Zydek
Assistant principal/Grade 4 teacher
St. Vincent School, Edmonton
BEAKER
Beaker has the biggest heart, most hopeful eyes and is always seeking improvement. He brings us his best bones every day when we get home from a long day of teaching and learning. He isn’t satisfied with OK — he is always seeking to bring bigger, better and more bones. Currently, his record is four big bones at once, but he has recently decided to push himself out of the box and is now bringing us balls and bones together.
Beaker is an example, to me, of a positive can-do attitude, and he provides me anxiety relief, humour and a reminder to get outside for a walk.
Christy Haggarty
Grade 9, social studies and language arts
Prescott Learning Centre, Spruce Grove
SHADOW
My dog is special because she always brings me a toy when I get home. She helps me to exercise and get fresh air when I walk her every day, and she makes me laugh.
Vicky Hovdebo
Grade 1–4, physical education and literacy
Parkland Village School, Spruce Grove
HELEN
Helen is special because she thinks she is a person and she is helpful as she brings the laughter needed after stressful days at work.
Stephani Clements
Complex needs strategist
Calgary Board of Education
LUNA
Luna is our first family dog and she’s great with every family member. She gets us outside more frequently. She helps me because, every day when I get home from work, she is happy to see me — it instantly makes my day better!
Andreas Berko
Consultant for fine and performing arts
St. Paul Centre, Calgary
SOPHIE
Sophie is special because she’s always near me and knows when I need her support. In this photo you can see her “helping” me puzzle, which I enjoy in order to unwind from the craziness of school.
Irene Blackburn
Grade 2
Ecole Notre Dame, Leduc
