Emotional Support Dog to Join the Verndale School District
- 6 days ago
- 1 min read
by Trinity Gruenberg
The Verndale School Board held their regular meeting on August 3.
Verndale School Is Getting A Comfort Dog
A new comfort dog will be joining Verndale School this year through a grant written by Human Services Director Jennifer Westrum. The grant will cover the cost of the dog, food, and supplies for the first year at no expense to the district. The dog will come from Interquest, a Texas-based company that trains dogs to provide comfort and emotional support in schools.
The dog will be housed in Greg Johnson’s office, and he will serve as the primary handler. The dog will be available for one-on-one student support and classroom visits, such as reward time when classes meet reading goals.
Outside of school, the dog will live with Principal Katie Bolland and her family, where it will be treated as a regular pet, with some limits on feeding and routines to maintain training.
The program is intended to support students’ emotional, social, and academic well-being. Reported benefits from similar programs include improved mood, increased attendance, stronger relationships between students and staff, and support after stressful events.
The specific dog and start date are not yet confirmed, but it may arrive as early as September. Once the dog is assigned, families will receive a formal letter with details, and students will be invited to suggest names for the dog...
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