Zinnia and I returned to Bishop Maginn High School this morning for the first time in more than a year. After an elaborate and thorough Covid-10 check-in, we went straight to Sue Gilligan’s homeroom to meet Paris, a freshman being mentored by Marcia, a member of the Army Of Good.
Paris was bitten severely by a dog when she was younger and has retained a fear of dogs ever since. I asked her to sit down and then asked Zinnia to sit down and be still.
She did. I have Paris some rawhide to hold out to Zinnia who took it gingerly. Paris reached over to pet Zinnia numerous times and got more confident and comfortable each time.
Now that can resume our regular visits to BMHS, I’ll make sure to drop in on Paris frequently. Zinnia will get her over this anxiety, I believe.
Paris is impressive, articulate, gracious, and hard-working. Thanks for your mentoring Marcia. I think it really helped.
Just like it was a shock to return to the Mansion, it was a shock to go back to Bishop Maginn. Half of the school’s schools are learning at home, half were in the school itself today.
The atmosphere was different than any high school I’ve seen. We are glad to be back and Zinnia got a huge and warm welcome. She even made history by doing one of the first virtual therapy dog appearances ever. Photo to come.
I’m going back to visit the school in a few days to talk to a young refugee from Myanmar whose family has suffered terribly since the military coup there.
I am grateful to be back and doing this work with Zinnia firsthand. Next week we’re sponsoring a Bishop Maginn Wish List so that the seniors can get together before graduation.
Jon…
I believe you and Zinnia can help Paris with her anxiety. Growing up, we didn’t have dogs or cats. As a child I feared dogs, and those old fears dragged into adulthood.
But for the last (50) years, we’ve rarely been without one. My problems diminished when I started thinking of dogs as individual beings. This helped me become more trusting with dogs I was familiar with, while wary of strange ones.
Perhaps dogs behave the same way towards humans.
Jon if Paris is in a neighborhood with only pit bulls then should she still retain her fear of dogs? Will she be able to distinguish a pit bull from a Pomeranian?
Good question Eileen..I’l talk about it on my radio show?
Jon a good subject for your radio show. Not all dogs are ZINNIA and in urban areas it is mostly pit bull and pit bull mixes (i.e. Albany) so she has to differentiate or get bitten again. Here in Santa Monica, guess what I see? King Charles Spaniels, Russian Wolfhounds. Irish Wolfhounds, Schnauzers, Goldens, French bulldogs, Flat coated retrievers, Corgis – no pit bulls or pit bull mixes. I am terrified of moving back to PHILA where pit bulls get out of yards or are not on leashes and terrorize neighborhoods (people and animals) and owners rarely prosecuted they put down the dogs but the owners get a slap on the wrist.