Pauline McLeod, HPE Teacher at Hymba Yumba Independent School and dog trainer has had a long association with animals both personally and professionally. Growing up she was surrounded by animals large and small, which has afforded her with a broad knowledge in the handling and training of animals.  

Pauline spent some time living and working in Mount Isa as a teacher and a dog trainer. It was here that she began her long-term vision of having students work with dogs, strongly believing that dogs could significantly assist students both in and out of the school environment. She believes that dogs can have a calming effect on students and that if students have the opportunity to learn how to train a dog, they would in turn learn important life skills such as responsibility, discipline and empathy.  

Pauline’s vision became a reality when she moved to Hymba Yumba Independent school as a HPE teacher and teacher of the Dog Training and Handling Program. Principal Peter Foster, inadvertently shared Pauline’s vision and together in collaboration with Craig & Tracey Murray from Empower Assistance Dogs, implemented a Dog Training and Handling program within the school.