Tucked away behind the main office desk, a dog bed can be found with a furry golden retriever nearby. After deciding to adopt a dog in February of last year, building sub Mollie Keuten, went through a lot of work to get her six-year-old dog Casey approved to be the building’s therapy dog. Before getting adopted by the Keutens, Casey had a family who had to give him up for adoption because of his allergies, causing Casey to go through three foster families over the course of six weeks until finding his forever home. The family immediately fell in love with him and took him in. With lots of training in obedience school and multiple observations in practice, Casey is now North’s official therapy dog. 

Coming to school on most Mondays and Wednesdays, Casey has made many connections between students. According to Keuten, most students’ school days and moods are affected positively by Casey’s appearance. 

“He has his group of regulars that will come to the office and look for him,” Keuten said. “If he’s not there on that particular day or if they forget what day it is, they get very sad.”

Staff and students alike love Casey for his calming presence and joyful nature, since he is always up for a good pet. However, helping people deal with their own stimuli and stress can increase Casey’s. 

 “We all laugh at how much he sleeps, but if you think about it, he’s not really accustomed to all the sounds,” Keuten said.

Coming to work every weekday, Keuten has grown to find North to be a second home. This familial tie has increased as Casey and her son, freshman Ben Keuten, have started coming to North with her. 

 “I can come to a place where I don’t even really feel like it’s work, this is my family away from my home,” Keuten said. “I get to be with all my family in the building, and then in my car with me every day, I get to bring my freshman son with me and my dog.”

Having Casey at North has allowed many people from different backgrounds to connect with one another. This has constructed a better community in our high school, one full of inclusivity according to Keuten. 

“I have gotten to meet a lot of people that I maybe ordinarily wouldn’t have interacted with,” Keuten said. “Not because I didn’t want to, just because that’s how the world is, you only have so much time for so many conversations.”

All of this together has made a big impact on lowering stress in our school according to Keuten. With the craziness of everyday high school life, Keuten and Casey are hoping to lower the anxiety around our school.

 “If you look at him, he’s pretty chill, he’s pretty relaxed,” Keuten said. “Maybe he can spread that relaxed vibe around school.

Q and A

Favorite food:

Mollie Keuten– Avocado

Casey– Paper and anything he can put in his mouth

Favorite movie:

Mollie Keuten– E.T. or 16 Candles

Casey– Anything so he can cuddle up with us on the couch

Favorite activity: 

Mollie Keuten– Exercise

Casey– Water (a puddle or rainstorm makes his week) and he will swim as often as he can

Favorite time of day:

Mollie Keuten– Morning

Casey– Probably evening because everyone is together and he gets the most attention

Favorite dessert:

Mollie Keuten– Raspberry Cheesecake

Casey– A roll of toilet paper or a visit to the mailslot and he likes carrots, fruit and carrots