Step into the Carmichaels Area High School Library, known as the Lavins Media Center, and you’ll find an inviting space for students to unwind and regroup before continuing the school day. Now, with the addition of a furry friend, the library is an even more popular spot.
Meet Lucy. This fun-loving puppy is now a licensed therapy dog who is brightening halls and touching lives. Mrs. Cassie Menhart, Carmichaels High School librarian, and proud owner of Lucy, explains that the pup joined her family on October 21, 2022. Cassie had long discussed the possibility of a library dog but was unsure of taking on the responsibility at first. After gaining insight from a similar program at California High School, and researching the benefits to mental health and development, Cassie knew that a therapy dog was exactly what the district needed.
Three to four weeks into Lucy’s training for the role with Off Leash K9 Training of Pittsburgh, Cassie says Lucy had a breakthrough moment: “Lucy seemed to follow all her commands from that point forward in her training. The trainers even commented on how well she was doing and that they were sure she had the right temperament to pass the Therapy Dog Certification test.” From that day on, Cassie and Lucy have worked side by side to uplift every person who walks through the doors of Carmichaels.
And the reception has been more than encouraging. Cassie says that she can see students’ mental health improving just from the short amount of time Lucy has been at school. “She certainly brings a smile to everyone’s face when they see her,” Cassie shares. She recalls one student visiting the library who simply said, “You don’t know what this just did for my mood today,” after spending some time petting Lucy.
Lucy’s typical workday begins early, with she and Cassie arriving at the high school around 6:30 a.m. By 7:30, Lucy is poised to greet students as they enter the building; she then retires to the library, ready to serve anyone needing a pick-me-up throughout the day. During Cassie’s prep and lunch periods, she takes Lucy to visit the elementary students across campus, sometimes reading with them, and always spreading the puppy love. “We are willing to change our daily routine to accommodate anyone that might need some Lucy time,” says Cassie.
Lucy’s job is hardly all work and no play, however. When the library isn’t crowded, Lucy enjoys playing fetch and frolicking with the high schoolers in the fenced-in courtyard or just indoors. But Lucy has made the library a more frequently visited space, especially for students who rarely utilized its services before. As the district’s “poster dog” for reading, Lucy’s favorite activity is simply listening to a story…and being petted, of course! While the workday can be tiring for both human and canine, Lucy is busy changing the culture of the school. Students are more kind, caring, and positive, and many are getting excited to read and learn from a young age. As Cassie says, “I often thought that our library couldn’t get any better. Then we got Lucy!”
