Yellow Lab now a Golden Knight

Molly, a new student at Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons School in Schenectady, is a quick learner, especially in Spanish class, where she already responds to such commands as "Quedate!" ("Stay!") and "Sigue!" ("Heel!").

Molly is a year-old yellow Labrador rescued from a local animal shelter by Ralph Provenza, a middle school science teacher. The school has adopted Molly as she participates in a program that trains dogs to become pet therapy animals for nursing homes, hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Mr. Provenza has chosen seven students to help with the training: juniors Laura Burkhardt, Michele Tiberio and Kristie Martinek; and seniors Kayleigh Gillespie, Kristin Petrella, Sarah Longwell and Gregory Allard.

Paw by paw

The students are currently working on creating a manual that documents Molly's training, step by step, in both Spanish and English. Additionally, they will prepare a video documentary that shows how they are training her.

"Our seniors must complete 25 hours of community service before they graduate. This will more than satisfy that requirement," Mr. Provenza noted.

"The students take Molly outside for exercise and play each day," he continued. "She gets some one-on-one and group attention, and [a chance to] play. Then they walk her through the halls on her leash where she socializes with other students. They do their work with her during their study halls, so it doesn't interfere with their other schoolwork."

Admission policy

"We had a yellow lab as a pet for 13 years who was also a Pet Therapy dog," Mr. Provenza said. "When we adopted Molly, it was with the intent that she would be one also. I thought it would be a nice idea to have the students help complete her training."

Once he obtained permission from Richard Bayhan, the principal, Mr. Provenza developed the Christian service program and brought Molly to school. Molly is also attending obedience school.

"We still have some issues to work on," the teacher added. "The people at the shelter felt she was abused when she was a puppy, but she has passed all the tests for adapting to her environment and becoming a therapy dog.

"Molly loves being around people. She has quickly taken to the students here, and we like to think that Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons is her home-away-from-home."

In class

When Molly is not training with the students, she attends science class with her owner. "She's very good in class. In fact, we hardly know she's there," said Richard Pachucki, a student. "Sometimes, she sleeps under my table in the science lab."

Said the teacher: "She's the only one that is allowed to do that."

"Everyone loves to pet Molly. She feels right at home here," said Sarah Longwell. "I love dogs in general and really think this is a great opportunity. Working with her has helped me dealing with customers [at the pet store] where I work part time."

To identify Molly as a bona fide Golden Knight, the school's nickname, the students had a scarf designed for her to wear. She now carries the maroon and gold colors of the football team.

(11/11/04)