Meet Our Therapy Dogs

At Pioneer Middle School, we prioritize giving our students the tools they need for success. Sometimes, the tools required are more than books and computers. Our students are facing issues that require assistance as they deal with anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. It has been proven that dogs provide the social and emotional support students desperately need. Therapy dogs help reduce stress, increase trust, and lower anxiety.

Daisy and Ernie have been evaluated as puppies to determine if they have the temperament necessary to acclimate well to the day-to-day job of going to school with the students. They will be trained to offer comfort, allowing the students to pet and sit with it while they read, talk, or regain the focus they need. Mr. & Mrs. Rhein have adopted Daisy and Ernie and will be their host family. After Daisy and Ernie are trained, the students, teachers, and faculty will learn what to expect from the dogs and how to interact with the dogs when they are at school. All interactions will be voluntary for the students and all allergies or aversions will be accommodated. Additionally, multiple staff members will be trained to handle the dogs so that they can provide comfort in many different environments.

We expect Daisy and Ernie to begin working full time at Pioneer in September of 2025!