Facility dog helps student mental health at Lawrence North High School
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — As school districts focus on students’ mental health, working school pets are becoming a more popular option to integrate into daily school life.
The Indiana Canine Assistant Network (ICAN) trains school facility dogs, and many of their students have hit the halls of several Indiana schools, including Nugget.
Nugget is well-known in the Lawrence Township school district. She is the facility assistance dog at Lawrence North High School, and has had a major impact on both students and staff.
There’s no doubt Nugget is good at her job. From walking the halls, to test support, and even a “brain break” for students when showing off her tricks, it is clear Nugget is needed.
Karen Tuttle has been a math teacher for 27 years, but says the idea of a school facility dog is a new concept that she has quickly become accustomed to.
“If she’s not here, the kids are like, ‘Where’s Nugget? Where’s Nugget? Can you go get Nugget?’ Like, she is the biggest deal in the school and everyone is just so happy to have her around,” Tuttle said. “I go get her every morning so she goes to all of our math meetings with us and she’s so excited to see every single person. And she just brings such a light to all the meetings and is just such a joy.”