Man’s best friend may soon enter classrooms. Occupational therapist Kathleen DeCampos introduced a plan to utilize therapy dogs at the October 17 School Committee meeting.

The animal assisted therapy could help students strengthen both motor and sensory skills, and social and emotional health, said DeCampos, who works in several Dartmouth schools.

“Research has suggested that just petting a dog initiates release of feel good hormones,” DeCampos said. “When the hormones respond, the level of cortisol – the stress hormone – decreases.”

DeCampos listed lower blood pressure, improved self-regulation, decreased loneliness, increased social interaction and reading as benefits of using therapy dogs. They also lower stress hormone levels, decrease anxiety and depression, increase self-image, and improve verbal communication and emotional bonding, she said, adding that the program could be especially beneficial to students with autism and ADHD.

DeCampos added that she worked with Pet Partners to register herself and her eight-year-old golden retriever Sophie as a therapy team. DeCampos said Pet Partners is an especially rigorous program; criteria for registration includes avoiding raw protein in the dog’s diet, strict health and vaccination screenings for dogs, and each dog and handler must pass evaluations.

Superintendent Bonny Gifford said she is on board with the project. The School Committee must update district policies relating to animals before Sophie is allowed into schools, which Gifford hopes will happen by December.

The initial rollout will be small, said DeCampos. She plans to pilot the program with students from her caseload, but hopes to see the program expand.