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CHARLESTON, WV — First Lady Cathy Justice announced today the state’s newest therapy dogs through the Friends With Paws program are officially placed at Brooke Middle School and Wheeling Park High School.
The therapy dogs were announced during assemblies celebrating their arrival.
Clara, a female Golden Retriever, was placed at Brooke Middle School.
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Parker, a male Golden Retriever, was placed at Wheeling Park High School.
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“I have no doubt that Clara and Parker will be a tremendous addition to both Brooke Middle and Wheeling Park High,” First Lady Cathy Justice said. “We have been able to see firsthand what these therapy dogs are capable of, and the benefits are staggering. Whether it be better reading skills, increased attendance rates, or an overall morale boost for the students and faculty, these dogs are here to help.”
The Friends With Paws program places certified therapy dogs in several schools across the state, providing companionship and comfort for students in need of a boost. Since December 2023, 19 Friends With Paws therapy dogs have been placed across the state.
Therapy dogs are specially trained to provide comfort and support to people in various tense environments. They can help people feel at ease, improve their mood, relieve anxiety, and remove social barriers. Therapy dogs are highly trained and certified to show their ability to work in stressful environments, ignore distractions, and provide therapy to people with diverse backgrounds and circumstances.
Following today’s assemblies, students and staff had the chance to greet Clara and Parker.
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“We are so excited to have Parker join our school community," Principal Meredith Dailer of Wheeling Park High School said. "We are dedicated to providing our students with as many positive experiences and mental health supports available. We believe he will be a welcomed and well loved addition to Wheeling Park High School.”
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“We have been anxiously waiting for Clara’s arrival for months and are ecstatic that the day has finally arrived. Clara will be such an asset to our school community. We are fortunate to gain her as a member of our school,” Principal Jenn Schiffbauer-Sisinni of Brooke Middle School said.
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The Friends With Paws program is a partnership between the Governor’s Office, West Virginia Communities In Schools (CIS) Nonprofit, and the West Virginia Department of Education. Therapy dogs are placed in schools within CIS counties where students are disproportionately affected by poverty, substance misuse, or other at-risk situations, and are in the greatest need of a support animal. The dogs serve as a healthy and friendly outlet for these students to address trauma and other social-emotional issues.
Schools that previously received therapy dogs through the Friends With Paws program include:
● Coal, a male Black Labrador, at Welch Elementary, McDowell County
● Foster, a male Golden Labradoodle, at Buckhannon Academy Elementary, Upshur County
● Jasper, a female Yellow Labrador, at Lewis County High School, Lewis County
● River, a male Yellow Labrador, at Pineville Elementary School, Wyoming County
● Shadow, a male Black Labrador, at Moorefield Elementary School, Hardy County
● Jet, a male Yellow Labrador, at Spring Mills High School, Berkeley County
● Kylo, a male Black Labrador, at Lenore PK-8 School, Mingo County
● Winnie, a female Apricot and White Labradoodle, at Wayne Elementary School, Wayne County
● Kasha, a female Yellow Labrador, at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, Pocahontas County
● Marshal, a male Cream Labradoodle, at Hinton Area Elementary School, Summers County
● Louie, a male Yellow Labrador, at Bridgeview Elementary School, Kanawha County
● Oakley, a male Apricot and Cream Labradoodle, at Oakvale Elementary School, Mercer County
● Ruby, a female Golden Retriever, at Greenbrier East High School, Greenbrier County
● Malfoy, a male Yellow Labrador, at Chapmanville Intermediate School, Logan County
● Tora, a female Yellow Labrador, at Elkins High School, Randolph County
● Skye, a female Brown Labradoodle, at Berkeley Springs High School, Morgan County
● Penny, a female Yellow Labrador, at Pendleton County Middle/High School, Pendleton County
● Nutter, a male Brown Labrador, at Ravenswood High School, Jackson County
● Meadow, a female Yellow Labrador, at Washington Lands Elementary School, Marshall County
More information about Friends With Paws can be found in Communities In Schools: Friends With Paws, a documentary produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Click HERE to view the documentary.
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A 2019 study published by the National Institute of Health found that a dog’s presence in the classroom promotes a positive mood and provides significant anti-stress effects on the body.
In addition, research shows that the simple act of petting animals releases an automatic relaxation response. Therapy animals’ lower anxiety and help people relax, provide comfort, reduce loneliness, and increase mental stimulation. They are also shown to lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health, reduce the number of medications some people need, help control breathing in those with anxiety, and diminish overall physical pain, among other profound benefits.
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