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B.G.H.S. therapy dog, Buck, is a hit in the halls

A gentle boxer-mix therapy dog, "Buck," has been on duty at Buffalo Grove High School full-time since April 7, dispensing face-licks, tail wags and loving "pressure" lean-ins with his body to students and staff.

Not only does he have legions of fans who greet him every day with a pat, hug or high-five, but Buck also boasts nearly 500 Twitter followers, with numbers growing each day.

One of Buck's goals is to accumulate 1,000 followers on his Twitter account (@BG_Buck); he is nearly halfway there.

When he's on duty, Buck wears a service vest to indicate he's working. When the vest comes off, he's a regular pet. Since placed at the school, he has participated in grief support groups, classes, fundraisers, activities, presentations and one-on-one counseling sessions, yielding consistently positive results.

Being around Buck improves students' self-esteem and confidence, reduces anxiety, opens lines of communication and provides affection and coping skills for all, especially those dealing with challenges.

The idea of obtaining a therapy dog for the school was conceived by Buffalo Grove special education teacher Amy Silverman and school psychologist Jennifer Zacharski, who together wrote a proposal that was accepted by the school administration.

Silverman and Zacharski believed that a therapy dog at the school would have similar success such as Prospect High School's full-time therapy dog, who works in the counseling department and throughout the building. District 214's Academy at Forest View and Vanguard School also employ the occasional services of a private therapy dog and its owner/handler.

With her school's approval, Silverman went on a nationwide search for the "right" dog. Her application was accepted by a nonprofit, Paws Giving Independence, a volunteer-run organization in Peoria that is supported entirely by donations.

PGI found Buck. Silverman had to clock 25 hours of training in Peoria, public access training and three separate weeklong home visits to be Buck's handler. She will officially become his owner in July.

With their training completed, Buck has been living with Silverman since early April, coming to school with her each morning. The pair will return to Peoria on May 12 to attend Buck's graduation ceremony.

Buck began life at a rescue shelter, where his excellent temperament made him good therapy dog potential. Through PGI, Buck was initially socialized and trained by inmates at a women's correctional facility. He next went into foster care while undergoing intensive training at Heartland Dog Training in Peoria.

Buck and Silverman will continue to train for the rest of the Buck's life.

"He melts my heart and the hearts of so many others," said Silverman, who is committed to publicizing the benefits of therapy dogs and in particular the efforts of PGI to train and place the animals where they can do the most good.

Earlier this month, B.G.H.S. held a fundraiser, "Buck for a Buck," in which staff and students could have their photos taken with Buck for a dollar.

"Buck is always available for 'selfies,'" said Silverman, "but this was a fun, unique way to raise money for PGI to continue its mission."

To learn more about the organization, visit givingindependence.org.

Buck and friends in Buffalo Grove High School teacher Matthew Branham's class. Courtesy of District 214
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