Northborough Therapy Dog Puts Students And Faculty At Ease

NORTHBOROUGH, MA — Most schools picture days don't include the school therapy dog and that's because most schools don't have a therapy dog — but Robert E. Melican Middle School in Northborough is not most schools.

When students returned from summer vacations, they looked forward to seeing their favorite teachers and staff, including Betty, the school therapy dog. Betty has been working in the school for four years and can usually be found in Principal Michelle Karb's office. Karb is Betty's owner and trainer and a strong believer in offering emotional support to students.

"My two passions are middle school students and dogs," Karb said, "It's hard to explain but something amazing happens that humans cannot do for children."

Betty isn't the first therapy dog to be in the school, in fact, she's the third. Karb started the therapy dog program in the school in 2013 with her chocolate Lab, Coco. The pilot program was well received among kids and teachers and even encouraged the school's guidance counselor, Julie Morancy, to bring her therapy dog.

When Coco had to retire and eventually passed away, Betty was able to help students grieve. "I really think she kind of helped bridge the gap students were feeling when Coco passed," Karb said.

With the program running for over five years, Karb said Betty is part of the fabric of the school. Students feel more comfortable coming into the principal's office when they can sit down and talk with a dog, Karb said. Betty has been particularly helpful to students with different emotional needs and means of communicating.

"We've had over the years, some students who are non-verbal and sometimes the only thing that will calm them down when they are disregulated is just laying on the floor with one of the dogs," Karb said. She's seen students who don't speak the language practice reading with Betty and kids stressed from classes in need of a break find solace in Betty's company.

Karb has worked in Melican Middle School for 23 years, the last five as the school principal. She said she's seen the culture around school and students change. "In the last ten or so (years) I would say mental health issues are on the rise," Karb said, "The stress level for middle school students is high in a lot of cases." She believes that all schools should offer a therapy dog so students have access to another means of de-stressing and communicating.

Betty isn't just an asset to students but faculty and staff as well. "I have teachers, custodians, secretaries come into my office to hang out with the dog," Karb said. She added that meetings with parents and guardians are made easier when Betty can be of use.

Betty bounces around the building throughout the day, switching between the guidance office, the principal's office and the behavior specialist's office — students and staff know she's never too far if they need her.