Boosting morale and making his human companions smile and laugh at his cheekiness is Bunbury Senior High School’s therapy dog Charlie.
Raising awareness of the link between physical activity and improved mood in the month of September, Charlie makes his rounds around the school’s oval during lunch time and mingles with students.
Walking for 30 minutes a day for 30 days as part of a Fit30 challenge, the vivacious spirited five-year-old Labrador is helping to raise funds to support the work of Youth Focus. Youth Focus is a Western Australian not-for-profit organisation working to provide mental health and suicide prevention services for 12 to 25 year olds.
Dog handler and Science teacher Ms Cathy Watson said the social walk enabled a good forum to start conversations and an opportunity to foster positive relationships.
Senior students who walk Charlie regularly said he helped make them feel calm, motivated and relaxed especially in the midst of final year exam stress.
