Therapy Dogs Provide Stress Relief for WCHS Students

Fidos For Freedom brings trained therapy dogs to the school to help students cope with academic pressures.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Therapy dogs from the non-profit organization Fidos For Freedom are regularly brought to Washington Churchill High School (WCHS) to provide emotional support and a calming presence for students dealing with stress and anxiety. The dogs, which range from Golden Retrievers to Pomeranians, offer students a much-needed break from their academic routines and a chance to relax through petting and interacting with the animals. WCHS counselor Tyler Reese and freshman Sophia Chen both attest to the positive impact the therapy dog visits have on the student body, helping to create a more supportive and inclusive school environment.

Why it matters

The presence of therapy dogs at WCHS highlights the growing recognition of the mental health needs of students, especially during high-stress periods like testing and major events. By providing an outlet for students to decompress and find comfort, the school is taking proactive steps to support overall student well-being and potentially improve academic performance.

The details

Fidos For Freedom, a non-profit organization, brings the trained therapy dogs to WCHS and the broader Washington-Baltimore region on a regular basis. The dogs, which include a variety of breeds like Golden Retrievers and Pomeranians, are stationed in the bulldog lobby during lunch periods, allowing students to easily locate and interact with them. Counselor Tyler Reese notes that the therapy dogs offer an important outlet for students who may struggle to express themselves or cope with academic pressures, while freshman Sophia Chen says the experience of petting the dogs helped reduce her own stress levels.

  • On December 18, the therapy dogs were present in the bulldog lobby at WCHS.
  • Fidos For Freedom regularly brings the therapy dogs to WCHS and the broader Washington-Baltimore region.

The players

Fidos For Freedom

A non-profit organization that brings trained therapy dogs to WCHS and the broader Washington-Baltimore region to provide emotional support and comfort to students.

Trista

A therapy dog who waits in the bulldog lobby at WCHS for students in need of her support.

Tyler Reese

A counselor at WCHS who attests to the positive impact the therapy dog visits have on students, providing an outlet for those struggling to express themselves or cope with academic pressures.

Sophia Chen

A freshman at WCHS who says the experience of petting the therapy dogs helped reduce her own stress levels.

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What they’re saying

“For a lot of students who maybe cannot talk through any issues they are going through or express themselves in certain ways, [they] are able to find an outlet in the dogs. Students can just go up to a very nice dog and have that moment of calm and that euphoric of just stepping away from the stress of academics and everything going on.”

— Tyler Reese, WCHS Counselor (thechurchillobserver.com)

“I feel like I had a drop in stress after being with therapy dogs; they are calming and it was fun to be around them. I think this is something that the school should continue, it is a good stress reliever and it is a nice distraction from my classes.”

— Sophia Chen, WCHS Freshman (thechurchillobserver.com)

What’s next

WCHS and Fidos For Freedom plan to continue bringing the therapy dogs to the school on a regular basis to support student well-being.

The takeaway

The presence of therapy dogs at WCHS highlights the growing recognition of the importance of student mental health, and the school's proactive efforts to create a more supportive and inclusive environment through innovative programs like this one.