It's a dog's life
There's no doubt about it — Remington is a kid magnet.
From the minute he walks into the lobby at Hillsboro Middle School, the 2-year-old golden retriever is showered with attention. Some students pause to give him a pat on the head on their way to class, while other stop to linger for a few more minutes of furry affection.
And for those willing to stick around, the yellow dog obliges by stretching out on the tile floor, ready to have a nice belly rub.
"He acts like he owns the place," said HMS counselor Tonja Wienck.
Remington, or "Remmy," has only been at HMS for a few weeks, but already he's quite at home as the school's newest staff member. He's a therapy service dog.
And what does a therapy dog do during the school days? At his most basic, he helps students to relax and feel more comfortable at school. It's a way to make the school more homey, just like you'd have a pet at your house, Wienck said.
And for those curious about the name, think Remington Steele: all of Remmy's brothers and sisters were named after TV detectives.
Since arriving at Hillsboro, Remmy's been dividing his time between visiting classes and mingling with the students. In the mornings, he greets those entering the building.
"He really enjoys it here," Wienck said.
Although Remmy's responsibilities will probably change over the course of the next school year, Wienck has already seen how he's helped her interact with some students that she might not ordinarily get the chance to talk to. They see him at her office and stop by to say hello to the friendly golden retriever.
"He's been a great contact for me," Wienck said.
And there's something about the mellow dog that sets students at ease. Remmy already got the chance to exercise his natural comforting skills during last week's storms.
When the tornado sirens went off and some Hillsboro Elementary students were forced to take shelter in the high school locker rooms, Remmy was there to alleviate some fear and stress.
"It took their mind off of it," Wienck said.
All middle school students have been instructed in Remmy's commands, and they know some of the do's and don'ts — one of which is, no people food.
Except for a small incident when he nabbed a cinnammon roll off of Wienck's desk while she was away. He is, after all, a normal dog.
But he's very well trained, and even walks around the school holding his leash in his mouth, Wienck said.
Special education teacher Anne Janzen looks forward to using Remmy in her classroom. His presence can relieve angry or stressful situations.
Janzen also might use Remmy as a kind of reward for good behavior — for example, being allowed to take Remmy for a walk around the building.
While he's in a classroom, he normally greets the students as they enter the room. During instruction, he might decide to lay down by the teacher's desk to take a nap. But he hasn't been a distraction to the class, Janzen said.
"They're real good about accepting him," she said.
