Therapy puppies help teens in Maryland juvenile centers

LAUREL, Maryland––When visitors and staff members walk through the front door of Thomas JS Waxter Children’s Center, they’re greeted by sign-in sheets, hand-held metal detectors and, now, a bouncing, fluffy yellow pup named Clay. Affectionately described by staff as Waxter’s “welcoming committee,” he is a 20-week-old Miniature Goldendoodle.

Clay and an 8-month-old Bernedoodle, Bayr, tend to the emotional needs of youth held at two Department of Juvenile Services secure detention centers.

Resident teens at Waxter, a 42-bed girls’ facility, and the Western Maryland Children’s Center in Hagerstown, a 24-bed boys’ facility, now have designated time with a puppy during recreation, and access to them during challenging counseling sessions.

Residents at the all-girls facility have taken to Clay. They tap on glass windows to get his attention as he barks and bounds around the dayrooms and bolt toward him, shouting his name in excitement as he bursts out onto the yard.

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