By Alesha Capone
Just like the students at Heathdale Christian College, puppy Ziva is learning online during the coronavirus pandemic.
The 12 week-old Labrador puppy is in training to become a therapy dog for students at the Werribee school.
The school’s principal of secondary, Deborah Letcher, is Ziva’s new owner.
Mrs Letcher said that during the Covid-19 lockdown, she was unable to take Ziva to puppy school.
Instead, she and Ziva are participating in classes with Mernda-based Therapy Animals Australia, via the video conferencing platform Zoom.
“Just like our students, she (Ziva) is learning online,” Mrs Letcher said.
“She’s having weekly online puppy classes and fortnightly classes with the head trainer Brad, who has been fantastic for us.”
Mrs Letcher said that if Ziva passed her training to become a therapy dog, she would help Heathdale pupils with anxiety and special needs, and assist them to become engaged in learning.
Mr Letcher said Ziva would also greet students before exams, and be led around the playground by shy pupils, to help them talk with other youngsters.
“She will spend most of her time between the principal’s office and the pastoral care office, and students will be able to drop in to see her if they want to,” Mrs Letcher said.
She said Ziva would not start interacting with students until reaching a certain point in her training, hopefully early next year.
Mrs Letcher said that in the meantime, she has been filming videos of Ziva to send to families and students from the school.
“While’s a new puppy at my house, it’s also a new puppy for all of them,” she said.
