A facility dog is coming to SHS within the next year. In partnership with the Assistant Canine Training Services, teachers Polly Dierkens and Louise Milton will be the handlers of a dog that will serve the staff, students and the community of Streetsboro.

ACTS is a group based in North Conway, New Hampshire that specializes in training dogs to be therapy and support animals for people.

The details are still being worked out, but the dog will be coming some time next school year. ACTS still needs time to train a dog that can work well with large groups of teenagers.

Dierkens said at this point they do not know any specific details about the gender and type of dog.  

“It will most likely be a Lab or Goldendoodle,” she said. “That’s all we really know so far.”

Milton said that having a therapy dog will be a great thing for SHS. Therapy dogs are an incredible resource. The presence of an animal can be incredibly soothing and relaxing, she added.

When it does eventually arrive, the dog will serve as what is called a facility dog. In short, the purpose of this type of dog will be to provide therapeutic support and positive interactions.

There are also plans for the dog to be used in P.E. with Krista Romance. Students will be able to run around with it, throw frisbees, play ball, and interact with it. Personal Wellness is another class that will be able to utilize the dog.

The process that led to Diekens pursuing this opportunity involved losing her dog and witnessing a police dog in action. In 2022, her Golden Retriever, Emma Stone [named after the actress] died suddenly at 9 years old. Dierkens said she was heartbroken, and wanted another dog in her home. She has a friend in Toledo who had success working with A.CT.S. . Then, after senior James Woods ended his life last year, a police officer brought his dog into the school to comfort the students., After seeing the response of people hugging the dog and crying, she knew this was what SHS needed.

After witnessing the positive response to the police dog, Dierkens proposed the idea of bringing a facility dog to SHS to the administration. After receiving permission, she began raising funds to purchase  a dog. Dierkens received funds from the Streetsboro Educational Foundation, the PTA, and a place called the GPD, a grant for public employees. The $7,500 cost of the dog pays for the training expenses. 

Once everything is in place, Dierkens and Milton will go to ACTS’ training facility in New Hampshire. They will stay there for a week, learning the dog’s commands and bonding with the animal.

Once the dog arrives at SHS, sometime in 2025, its home base will be Dierkens’ room, 132. “I will be the owner and handler, so it will live with me and come to school with me,” Dierkens said. “It will spend some of the time with me and some with Mrs Milton. It will also be available for the counselors.” 

Milton is also looking forward to the dog’s arrival. “This dog will bring interaction to my students,” she said. “It will teach them valuable skills like raising a pet.”

Additionally, Dierkens has plans for the dog other than just therapy. “Once the dog is here I plan on bringing it to the other buildings and the community, so that people can play with it and learn its commands and stuff,” she said. 

She also plans to take the dog to local hospitals and nursing homes during the summertime, when they will not be working in the school.

Both Dierkens and Milton have spent time fostering animals and volunteering with animal rescue organizations.

“Dogs are so smart and loving,” Dierkens said. “I’m just so excited to bring our therapy dog here and share with our students and staff all the fun, joy and comfort animals can provide.”