Students in the WACO School District were recently introduced to their new four-legged friend. 

The WACO High School Student Council purchased a therapy dog for the school in late October to help put a smile on students’ faces throughout the day. A bernedoodle by the name of Arly is currently undergoing training and will join students full-time after completing his training at the latest during the start of the 2022-2023 school year. Superintendent Ken Crawford shares his thoughts on the district bringing a therapy dog and the impact it can have, “I think it’s one of those things that when you see, and it’s hard to describe, but when you see it you know it. When you see it going into a classroom and sit with kids as they read or a kid that’s having a tough day and he can sit with the dog and kind of pets that dog to calm down, you see that that therapy dog really does help the mood of the building and the mood of the child. And it really helps with that sense of the emotional aspect that I think is so important nowadays.”

The student council purchased Arly from New Life Kennels in Illinois for $1,800 with funds saved from past fundraisers. Crawford added that he is very proud of the student council for taking the initiative and purchasing the dog. WACO school nurse Brittney Burnham will serve as Arly’s handler and is now a member of the Burnham family.