Winston School Students Bid Farewell to their Therapy Dog

Oh Dottie, say it isn’t so.

Dottie, the black standard poodle and facility dog at Del Mar’s The Winston School, has packed her doggie bag and is headed north to Alaska with her family, leaving a huge void behind at the school.

Highly trained and certified by Assistance Dogs International, Dottie has been a fixture at the school for the past two years bringing solace and comfort to kids with learning differences, and logging as many as 30 hours some weeks as a therapy dog. The college prep school offers creative learning options for students with Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Dyslexia, ADHD and various other learning disorders.

“In a short window of time, Dottie has had a huge impact on our students,” said Headmaster Mike Peterson. “She is part of the Winston family and really has brought a calming reassurance to our kids. We will miss her greatly.”

The tall black Poodle began reporting for duty at the school in 2013 when owner Sandy Snodgrass became a parent volunteer. Her son Bruce was a student at Winston. But with the New Year, Dottie’s family chose to relocate back to its native Alaska.

On her last day at the school, the kids swarmed around Dottie during an afternoon ice cream social held in her honor, showering her with ear rubs and loving pats.

Thank you Dottie for your service: You leave behind some big paw prints to fill.

For more information about The Winston School and its solutions for kids with learning differences, go to: http://thewinstonschool.com/