Dolly, a golden doodle, is being trained as a therapy dog at Rice High School by welding teacher Josh Chollett. Principal Erron Mahone noted that Dolly is currently in training to become a full-service therapy dog. The initiative for a therapy dog on campus was first suggested by Superintendent Kendall Center when he served as the high school principal.
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Chollett, who acquired Dolly over the summer, stated that her lineage includes therapy dogs previously used by the ag teacher in Cy-Fair ISD. Initially hesitant about adding another dog to his home, Chollett's wife collaborated with the teacher in Cy-Fair, leading him to purchase Dolly.
Since late September, Dolly has been adjusting to her school environment, primarily residing in the ag building during class hours and going home with Chollett afterward. He emphasizes that students in the ag department assist in her care. Dolly is currently 4 months old and is housebroken while also familiar with basic commands.
Chollett highlighted the importance of understanding that therapy dogs, like Dolly, do not have the same rights as service dogs. Therefore, they operate under administrative approval to explore having a therapy dog on campus. He plans to pursue certification for Dolly as she matures, beginning with mastering the AKC Good Citizen skills and later seeking further certifications once she turns 1 year old.
The process of integrating a therapy dog into a school involves assessing the school's climate and culture and identifying suitable candidates, whether by training a new dog or acquiring one from a therapy dog organization. Principal Mahone pointed out that many students are dealing with mental health challenges, and Dolly is intended as one of several resources to support them. He noted that Chollett's work with animals aligns well with the needs of training a therapy dog, contributing to the overall mental well-being strategy for students.