This is the Dog-Gonest Teacher

Sandy Hanebutt, counselor at Central Elementary, was doing some serious thinking about ways to reach children with special needs. Students in grades Pre K through 3rd who are referred to her for counseling are sometimes hyperactive, disruptive, withdrawn or came from volatile homes. They have low self-esteem, mood swings of anger, and at times discouragement. It is her job to meet these needs, a job she takes very seriously. Hanebutt had attended a seminar at which an elementary teacher from Keller explained her success with children when she introduced a Golden Retriever to her program with the students.

Hanebutt, already an enthusiastic supporter of the pet-therapy idea, sat down and wrote a proposal to adopt a dog from the Erath County Humane Society for assistance in her role as counselor to the children at Central Elementary. She requested that her proposal be granted on a trial basis. The request was accepted by both Dr. Ron Burk, Principal, and Garry Horn, Superintendent, and Sandy Hanebutt began her search for the "right" dog.

On a visit to the Erath County Humane Society shelter, the teacher met with Judy Hallmark, director,and explained to her the type of animal she wanted. Hallmark brought in a six year old black Labrador Retriever named, Cindy who was leash trained. Cindy’s shots were up to date and she had been spayed, two requirements for the dog’s position and she was extremely gentle and loving. Hanebutt liked Cindy but she had her heart set on a Golden Retriever so she sat down and took Cindy’s big head in her two hands as she thought it over.

"Just take her home with you for a few days and see if she is what you are looking for," Hallmark told the teacher. Well as anybody knows, and especially someone who has worked with animals all her life and been in charge of an animal shelter for several years, once a dog goes home with a prospective owner, the likelihood of it ever being returned is small. Cindy had been at the shelter for several weeks and although she had received lots of interest, no one had come forward to claim her. Hallmark sensed that situation was about to change.

"I knew that even if Cindy didn’t become the dog that was right for my purpose at school, she was never going back to the shelter," Hanebutt said. "She and I bonded that first day. As it turned out, no dog could have been more perfect for my job as counselor. When the kids come into my office and sit down to talk, Cindy will come out from under my desk, walk over and gently nudge an elbow. Then she puts her big wide head under that arm and stares into the child’s eyes. It’s just like she is saying, ‘Here I am. Tell me all about it.’ And the kids will talk to her and hug her neck while they talk. She seems to give comfort and inspire confidence."

Pets have long been recognized as therapeutic in nursing homes, perhaps because animals, especially dogs, will accept any one as a friend no matter what their position in life. They love equally the rich, the poor, the clean, the dirty, those with disabilities, those that live in fine homes and the ones homeless on the street. With an ability to see the inside of a person, a dog never hesitates to give it’s loyalty, devotion, and love. These are facts that Hanebutt had known but she was uncertain how the parents would react to a dog at school.

"We sent letters home to all the parents explaining what we wanted to do and there has never been a complaint," Hanebutt said. "We introduced Cindy to the classroom when we discussed responsibility during character education. We explained the needs of a pet and the responsibility of caring for one and tied that responsibility to one of proper behavior. Students know that if they holler down the hall at Cindy, or step out of line to pet her, she might be removed from the campus. Their responsibility is to obey the rules set down by their teacher and administrators and Cindy’s responsibility is to be a patient and gentle friend."

Cindy lives in the house with the Hanebutts and comes to school with

Dogs and children seem to be a natural combination, each accepting the other for what they are, without reservations. Central Elementary is the only school in the area with a dog in regular attendance but there are other dog stories associated with education. One such program is present in the school rooms at Boys Ranch near Amarillo. Cal Farley, founder of the ranch for boys with special needs, stated the reason so many dogs are free to wander around the grounds and schoolrooms.

"Often when a boy comes here, the best friend he has in this world is his pet. Sometimes his dog is the only friend he knows that he can trust absolutely. We always make sure that if a boy has a pet dog, that dog is welcome at Boys Ranch. Our boys need all the love and stability they can get."

Last school year Cindy wagged her tail when happy students and parents gave her small gifts for Christmas and at the end of school. During summer vacation it was apparant that she missed the children, so Sandy’s husband, David, took Cindy with him to the golf course. "She enjoyed riding around with David in the cart and she occasionally jumped off for a swim in one of the water hazards," Hanebutt said. "Altogether I think she enjoyed her summer vacation but just like the rest of us was ready to come back to school and get to work."

Hanebutt was prepared to train the dog she planned to adopt from the Humane Society but Cindy came self-trained. She has never shown any ill temper at all and permits the children to lift her gums, examine her teeth, count her toes, inspect her nails, whatever they are interested in. There is a definite rule against any tail pulling though and the children all respect Cindy’s feelings in that regard.

"We are just so pleased with our dog and so grateful that Judy Hallmark kept her at the shelter while she tried to find a home for her. There are so many fine animals there just waiting for the right person to come along," Hanebutt said. "Frankly, I don’t think we could have done any better than Cindy. She is just perfect for us." The teacher grew silent, remembering the many animals at the shelter for which there would never be a second chance. For most of them it was the end of the line. She stood up and immediately the dog, that appeared to be sleeping beneath her desk, was on her feet, tail wagging, eyes on her mistress. Her mouth opened as if laughing and her whole body wiggled in anticipation. "Where are we going," she seemed to say.