Happy tails and happy kids make for a happy Amy Onderdonk. 

"It's really rewarding to see how much joy you bring the kids, right?” Onderdonk said. “And, then they bring her a lot of joy as well."

Onderdonk is a volunteer with A Fair Shake for Youth. The nonprofit organization brings therapy dogs to middle schools to teach underserved students social and emotional skills.

"Treating, interacting with the dogs, learning how to interact with other kids, treating other kids with kindness and compassion and empathy,” Onderdonk said, listing the benefits of working with dogs.

Augie, Onderdonk's 6-year-old pitbull mix, is the Prospect Heights resident's partner.

Onderdonk adopted Augie right before the pandemic and quickly noticed her friendly nature.

"I saw how motivated she is to interact with people, how much she loves people." 

So Onderdonk got Augie certified as a therapy dog. The pair – along with other other dog and human duos – visits schools once a week for a two and a half month-long class. The kids learn to communicate and to treat others, whether it be animals or their classmates, with respect. 

"I like to say that dogs help the kids find their best selves," said Audrey Hendler, the founder and executive director of A Fair Shake for Youth.

Sometimes the classes can turn around a student's entire day.

"I go from having, like, a bad day to, like, a better day," said Jasiah Perry, a sixth grade student at M.S. 50 in Williamsburg.

"It doesn't matter what it is. I can just play with them all day," said Sofia Torres, another sixth grader at M.S. 50.

Onderdonk and Augie also visit a local nursing home once a week.

"A lot of the adults in the nursing homes barely get visitors, so it's really fun, even if they don't interact very much with her, just a presence there."

Onderdonk, who is a veterinarian, sees it as a way to bridge her interests and give back.

"This is a fun opportunity to kind of merge both worlds," she said.

"I get therapy from her every day, so the opportunity to bring her to other people and kids motivates me."

For lending a paw to New Yorkers of all ages, Amy Onderdonk is our New Yorker of the Week.