Meet Buddy & Baxter – JPC’s Newest Pooch Pals!

The Pooch Pals Program is JPC’s Support Dog Program, designed to promote student and staff wellbeing, enhance mental health, and contribute positively to the school culture. The program operates under the Catholic Education Archdiocese of Canberra Goulburn (CECG) Animals in Schools Policy, the School Support Dog Plan and Agreement, and JPC’s local procedures. It ensures that all welfare, safety, and risk management obligations are met for both students, staff, and dogs. The Pooch Pals Program has been running successfully at JPC since 2017.

We are excited to introduce Buddy and Baxter, two adorable Bichoodles, to the Pooch Pals Program at JPC! A Bichoodle is a cross between a Bichon Frise and a Toy Poodle, making them affectionate, intelligent, and gentle companions. Their hypoallergenic coats also make them a great choice for a school environment, as they are less likely to trigger allergies.

Buddy is 6 years old and brings a calm, reassuring presence to the program.
Baxter is 9 months old, full of energy and eager to learn from his older companion!

To help them settle into their new environment, Buddy and Baxter will begin with a two-week familiarisation period, where they will gradually get used to the school setting with limited interactions. Once they feel comfortable and confident, they will be fully integrated into the JPC community, ready to spread smiles with their wagging tails!

For their safety and wellbeing, Buddy and Baxter will always be kept on their leads while visiting the school. They have also undergone full veterinary checks and are fully vaccinated, ensuring they are healthy and ready to interact with our school community.

Their handler, Nerissa Hannaford, is based in the Learning Diversity staffroom (Library). If you have any questions about the Pooch Pals Program, please feel free to reach out!

Nerissa Hannaford
Learning Diversity Teacher