DANVILLE, Ky. — Scooter is a 1-year-old black labrador that came all the way from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Paws and Stripes program in Florida. Now, he’s Danville High School’s new therapy dog.

What You Need To Know

  • Danville High School welcomed its new therapy dog, Scooter, to the school on March 17

  • This resulted from a persuasive video that Katie Newton’s class put together and presented

  • Within his first day, Scooter was already helping students. The staff has noticed that he has had a quick impact on students

  • Scooter’s handler, Officer Ben Ray, has welcomed the dog into his home as a member of the family

Getting him to the school was quite the process, but staff and students alike are happy to have him there.

“It all started with Ms. Newton’s class putting together the persuasive piece for my assistant chief and he immediately jumped on board,” said school resource officer Ben Ray, who is Scooter’s handler. “He thought it’d be great for the school, great for the community.”

Katie Newton teaches students with moderate-to-severe disabilities at the high school. Her class felt that Ray should have a therapy dog and that it would be beneficial for students.

“I gave them a graphic organizer, we divided it up, we talked about the elements of what a persuasive piece looks like, and so through that we did our research and we did a videotape,” said Newton.

The class focused their research on mental health after the pandemic and how students have been dealing with anxiety about coming to school since then. They found that therapy dogs could help reduce that anxiety.

They also put out a survey for students and staff at the school.

“Overwhelmingly, every single student and every single staff member wanted the dog there just kind of as a comfort level to reduce their anxiety,” said Newton.

Since Scooter’s first day on March 17, both Ray and Newton have noticed the impact he’s already had on students. In fact, on his first day, a student was struggling and came into Ray’s office.

“She kind of started telling us a little more about what was going on and we were able to help her, and I think that’s because of Scooter,” said Ray.

Newton has seen an improvement with her own students as well.

“I have seen a lot of growth in my students just being able to communicate their needs and wants,” said Newton. “Just being able to say, ‘I want to see Scooter’ or ‘I need Scooter time now.’”

Tye Smith, one of Newton’s students, brought Scooter a toy and enjoys spending time with him.

“Scooter makes me happy,” said Smith.

Officer Ray also feels that Scooter has helped create more trust between him and the students.

“I’ve also had kids that, before, I’d walk down the hallway and they wouldn’t even, you know, look at me,” said Ray. “Some of them would turn around and walk the other way and now they’re beating down my door to come see Scooter.”

When his workday is over, Scooter goes to Ray’s home and runs around the backyard with the family’s two other dogs. Ray says that Scooter has been fitting in well with his family.

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