First Lady Justice delivers Barbour County Schools’ first therapy dog
BELINGTON, W.Va. (WBOY) — Research shows that dogs, including therapy dogs, can be beneficial to students, so Belington Middle and Elementary schools welcomed a new four-legged staff member on Friday, whose main job is to give hugs.
Around 600 students got to welcome First Lady Cathy Justice as she officially presented Gia to the very excited students, faculty and staff. Gia is the 39th pup delivered during the three-year run of the "Friends with Paws" program as part of Communities in Schools.
"After the pandemic, it was a little tough for kids to get back in school, the emotional problems that everyone was having going back to school," Justice said. "That time we thought, 'Well this would maybe be a good thing', everyone, most everyone likes dogs, they make you feel good. And so we want these children to be happy and emotionally and very well balanced and just a little bit of help in their lives."
Justice added there have already been results showing the benefit of these dogs' presence. "The dogs seem to bring a soothing atmosphere to the schools. The attendance is better, attendance is a huge problem in every school so the kids literally want to come to school to see the dogs. So listen, if that's what it takes, we're gonna do every little thing that we can."
Eighth-grader Eli Tyler is looking forward to getting to know Gia.
"I feel like she can just help people when we're having bad days and everything, just make them feel better," Tyler said.
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Gia will have multiple handlers at the school, but her main handler and who she will go home with every night is Belington Middle's Assistant Principal, Rick Daugherty.
"Today was the first day Gia got to meet the kids in person and as they were walking in the building, the kids who come in grumpy, upset, they come in smiling, they were loving on her," Daugherty said. "They just—it made their day better, and that's our hope, just helps one kid at a time."
Gia is the first dog delivered to Barbour County Schools, and Superintendent Eddie Vincent said he handpicked Belington as her primary assignment, as he saw the need for students.
"Just thought it was the perfect spot for Gia, it's a great school, they deserve her, obviously they're going to take good care of her," said Vincent.
Even though she has her main school, Vincent said Gia will visit all schools in the county during her time. "She'll be at ball games and special events and hopefully everyone kind of takes ownership in her."
Justice said the administration will deliver the last 16 dogs to the remaining counties by the end of the year, as every county will receive at least one dog. Each dog is estimated to work for around 10 years, but even after the Justice administration's term comes to an end, the program will continue as the Communities in Schools is embedded in the state's education program.
