Friends With Paws welcomes newest therapy dog to Sherman High School

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Friday, March 22, 2024


** Friends With Paws welcomes newest therapy dog to Sherman High School
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SETH, WV — First Lady Cathy Justice today announced the placement of the state’s next therapy dog through the Friends With Paws program at Sherman High School.

Captain is a Golden Retriever, and the school celebrated his arrival during an assembly this afternoon.

“I just know Captain is going to be so loved at Sherman High School,” First Lady Justice said. “The community there has opened their home completely to this therapy dog which is a dream come true. The help and support from Captain will be a great addition to the school, and I can’t wait to hear about all the success and comfort he brings, not only to the students but to the faculty as well.”
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. As of this month, a total of 23 Friends With Paws therapy dogs, including Captain, have been placed throughout 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 assembly, students and staff had the chance to greet Captain.
"We are excited to have Captain come aboard with us. We know that for so many of our students Captain will be a great calming influence in the many storms they are facing in their lives," Principal of Sherman High School Todd Barnette said.

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.

“Within two minutes of meeting Captain I was able to see how he can change the mood of an entire room. Seeing students in crisis go from tears to smiles while interacting with him was inspiring. Sherman High School students and staff have been working hard to improve the culture of our school this year,” Sherman High Communities In Schools Site Coordinator Matthew White said. “Captain was making a positive culture change before he ever arrived at his new home. I cannot wait to see how he can help us in the future. I am so thankful we have been given this opportunity."
Schools that previously received therapy dogs through the Friends With Paws program include:

● Coal ([link removed]) , a male Black Labrador, at Welch Elementary, McDowell County
● Foster ([link removed]) , a male Golden Labradoodle, at Buckhannon Academy Elementary, Upshur County
● Jasper ([link removed]) , a female Yellow Labrador, at Lewis County High School, Lewis County
● River, ([link removed]) a male Yellow Labrador, at Pineville Elementary School, Wyoming County
● Shadow, ([link removed]) a male Black Labrador, at Moorefield Elementary School, Hardy County
● Jet ([link removed]) , a male Yellow Labrador, at Spring Mills High School, Berkeley County
● Kylo ([link removed]) , a male Black Labrador, at Lenore PK-8 School, Mingo County
● Winnie ([link removed]) , a female Apricot and White Labradoodle, at Wayne Elementary School, Wayne County
● Kasha ([link removed]) , a female Yellow Labrador, at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, Pocahontas County
● Marshal ([link removed]) , a male Cream Labradoodle, at Hinton Area Elementary School, Summers County
● Louie ([link removed]) , a male Yellow Labrador, at Bridgeview Elementary School, Kanawha County
● Oakley ([link removed]) , a male Apricot and Cream Labradoodle, at Oakvale Elementary School, Mercer County
● Ruby ([link removed]) , a female Golden Retriever, at Greenbrier East High School, Greenbrier County
● Malfoy, ([link removed]) a male Yellow Labrador, at Chapmanville Intermediate School, Logan County
● Tora ([link removed]) , a female Yellow Labrador, at Elkins High School, Randolph County
● Skye ([link removed]) , a female Brown Labradoodle, at Berkeley Springs High School, Morgan County
● Penny, ([link removed]) a female Yellow Labrador, at Pendleton County Middle/High School, Pendleton County
● Nutter ([link removed]) , a male Brown Labrador, at Ravenswood High School, Jackson County
● Meadow ([link removed]) , a female Yellow Labrador, at Washington Lands Elementary School, Marshall County
● Clara ([link removed]) , a female Golden Retriever, at Brooke Middle School, Brooke County
● Parker ([link removed]) , a male Golden Retriever, at Wheeling Park High School, Ohio County
● Pixie ([link removed]) , a female Apricot Labradoodle, at Lewisburg Elementary School, Greenbrier 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 ([link removed]) to view the documentary.
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