Puppy Love: Parkersburg High School receives Barney the therapy dog
Barney the therapy dog poses with the Parkersburg High School cheer squad after First Lady Cathy Justice delivered him to the school on Wednesday. Barney will be at the school to help students who might be struggling socially or mentally. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
First Lady Cathy Justice, right, speaks to a group of students at Parkersburg High School Wednesday as Wood County Schools Superintendent Christie Willis looks on. Justice visited the school to drop off Barney the therapy dog as part of the Friends With Paws initiative from Communities In Schools. Barney will be at the school to help students who might be struggling socially or mentally. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Wood County Schools Superintendent Christie Willis poses with Barney the therapy dog Wednesday at Parkersburg High School. Barney was delivered to the school by First Lady Cathy Justice as part of the Friends With Paws initiative from Communities In Schools. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Barney the therapy dog, and trainer Izzy Smith, arrived at Parkersburg High School Wednesday as part of the Friends With Paws initiative from Communities In Schools. Barney is now part of the Big Red family and will be at the school to help students who might be struggling or mentally. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Barney the therapy dog poses with the Parkersburg High School cheer squad after First Lady Cathy Justice delivered him to the school on Wednesday. Barney will be at the school to help students who might be struggling socially or mentally. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
First Lady Cathy Justice, right, speaks to a group of students at Parkersburg High School Wednesday as Wood County Schools Superintendent Christie Willis looks on. Justice visited the school to drop off Barney the therapy dog as part of the Friends With Paws initiative from Communities In Schools. Barney will be at the school to help students who might be struggling socially or mentally. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Wood County Schools Superintendent Christie Willis poses with Barney the therapy dog Wednesday at Parkersburg High School. Barney was delivered to the school by First Lady Cathy Justice as part of the Friends With Paws initiative from Communities In Schools. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Barney the therapy dog, and trainer Izzy Smith, arrived at Parkersburg High School Wednesday as part of the Friends With Paws initiative from Communities In Schools. Barney is now part of the Big Red family and will be at the school to help students who might be struggling or mentally. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
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PARKERSBURG -- Barney has arrived at Parkersburg High School. And he is not a 6 foot purple dinosaur.
Barney the therapy dog was brought to the school Wednesday by First Lady Cathy Justice as part of the Friends With Paws initiative from Communities In Schools.
Each therapy dog is specially trained to respond to trauma while providing comfort, support and love to students.
"If you have dogs, love dogs, you'll know they just make you feel better," Justice said. "They (students) can just relate to them and they just feel like they have a good friend they can just talk to them. You know that they're there with them all the time."
PHS Principal Kenny Demoss said he hopes Barney can help reduce the high numbers of mental health problems seen in the school and local community. He said Barney will be available for students to visit during lunches, breaks, and even pulled into classrooms by his handlers and that his presence is meant to help students feel less anxious and more supported.
"This is just a fantastic opportunity for us to be able to handle another level of anxiety, depression, and things that kids are going through nowadays," said DeMoss. "Having Barney around, I think if you're an animal lover, you know what kind of comfort they bring you and he is specifically trained for this."
Justice talked about one student who struggled to open up to others and would barely speak. She said that changed after talking to his therapy dog.
"Someone asked him,'How was your day today with the dog?' And with him not speaking very much, he said, 'Best. Day. Ever.'" Justice said.
While Barney will be fully introduced at the start of the next school year, he will also spend time familiarizing himself with the large school building over the summer session. DeMoss said Barney will live with and be cared for by his primary handler Travis Smith outside of school hours.
Justice said the community is encouraged to help financially or with veterinary care to keep Barney happy and healthy. She said local involvement through awareness and support is also welcomed.
"We like for the communities to be involved with the dog," Justice said. "Just become involved. If you know that your school has a dog, please call and see how you can help."
She said the Friends With Paws program brings much-needed comfort and improves wellness for students across West Virginia. With community support, it will continue helping many more children.
For more information on the program visit www.ciswv.org.
Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com