Therapy dog goes to work at Menahga School District

A 4-year-old Goldendoodle is making oodles of buddies at Menahga School.

Her calm, friendly demeanor and natural empathy has both students and staff gravitating toward her furry comfort.

“It’s been amazing,” reports owner Kerry White.

She introduced Sydni to the Menahga School Board on Monday, March 18.

Kerry thanks the district, staff and students for welcoming Sydni into the school.

Kerry always wanted to pursue bringing a therapy dog into the Menahga School District.

“I’ve always been intrigued by it, but I’ve never had the right dog,” she said in a phone interview. “I had a son with special needs, so we’ve always had a dog in our house. They’re very calming. I just know what it did for my own kids.”

Kerry and husband Bob acquired Sydni, at 12 weeks old, just before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“She just was always intuitive, and so I just knew there was something different about her,” Kerry recalls.

A retired elementary teacher, Kerry is a mentor in the district.

“I mentor teachers for their first three years,” she explained. Previously, she taught at the school for 36 years. Bob served as athletic director, and currently drives a school bus.

Last fall, the Whites enrolled Sydni in six weeks of certified therapy dog training in Bemidji. The class lasted three or four hours every Thursday.

She’s also registered as a Good Canine Citizen.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Jay Kjos allowed Sydni to visit a kindergarten and two second-grade classrooms as a pilot project.

“And special ed,” Kerry added.

Their daughter, Lindsey White, is an elementary special education teacher at Menahga. “She took the training with us. She teaches EBD (emotional and behavioral disorder), so it was a good fit for calming down kids.”

Sydni attends Menahga School two days a week.

Teachers call Kerry, requesting a classroom visit.

Sydni has visited the classrooms of Ashley Walvatne, Abby Hoverson and Paige Pietila each month.

Kerry explains the differences between a therapy dog and a service dog to the youngsters.

“Because they love up on Sydni, and I wanted them to know they can,” she said.

A therapy dog’s role is to provide solace.

She “reads” with groups of second graders, listening quietly.

Contributed/ Kerry White

Sydni has spent time in Relationships, Education, Accountability, Character and Hard Work (REACH) program classrooms and support or “reset” rooms.

“She greets lots of people in the hallways and is a custodial helper, as she definitely cleans up any food on the floors,” adds Kerry.

Syndi’s excursions began in the elementary school, but Kerry says she’s drawn to the high school more and more.

Contributed/Kerry White

Her office is in the seventh and eighth grade section of the school. “So every hour, if Sydni’s here, I go out with her in the hallway. It’s just amazing how the kids stop and chat. The noise level is less.”

Kerry praised Menahga students for their politeness. They always ask if they can pet the dog.

“What I’ve noticed in the last couple weeks, with her being here more, is how much the high school kids have gravitated towards her.”

Contributed/Kerry White

Teachers aren’t immune to Sydni’s charms, either. “Several times I’ve had teachers come in and say, ‘I just need a Sydni fix,’” Kerry said. “Usually, I just have chocolate here for teachers.”

Kerry shared a few situations where Sydni’s presence was helpful.

One time, she was in a high school reset room.

“The teacher told me there were five kids in there, and one was having kind of an anxiety attack.” Without any instruction from the teacher, “Sydni just went over and laid with her.”

Another time, Kerry said, “There was a little guy in elementary that was struggling for a couple hours, and I took Sydni in there.”

The boy wasn’t interested in the dog at first, but “Sydni pulled on my leash. I let her go, and she went over to him and laid with him. Within 10 minutes, I said, ‘Can Sydni walk you back to class? He said, ‘Yes.’”

Contributed/Kerry White

Sydni is learning, too. For instance, she is currently getting more accustomed to trotting next to a power wheelchair, thanks to the help of a Menahga student.

“If you talk to the kids in Menahga, they’ll tell you Sydni sings,” Kerry said. “She does, but she only sings to Elton John songs.”

“Yellow Brick Road” arouses Sydni’s desire to croon, but also “Rocket Man.”

“Oh, she howls. We have to shut doors,” Kerry said.

Students frequently request a concert. “She’ll do it on command.”

Sometimes it’s been Kenny Chesney ‘Get Along.”

And sometimes Sydni is just a regular ol’ dog.

“Don’t get me wrong. She can be a dog and she can be naughty. She steals my socks and she loves to roll in the dirt,” Kelly concluded.

Sydni and the Whites’ other dog, Maya, a Springerdoodle, also participate in the Menahga Gateway Lions’ Paws of Comfort program. They visit nursing homes and other care centers.