The Inter-Mountain photos by Edgar Kelley Trainer Izzy Smith from Ultimate K-9 walks Elkins High School’s new therapy dog, Tora, down the track in front of students at EHS Stadium on Friday. Tora was introduced to the student body during a ‘Pup Rally’ at the school.

From left, Elkins High School Principal Carla Lambert, Randolph County School Superintendent Debbie Schmidlen and Katie Morris, a representative from First Lady Cathy Justice’s office, look on as trainer Izzy Smith demonstrates what the school’s new therapy dog is capable of Friday afternoon at EHS.

ELKINS — The first-ever therapy dog at Elkins High School was introduced to the school’s student body during a “Pup Rally” Friday afternoon at EHS Stadium.

Tora, a female Yellow Labrador, will attend school each day and will also be present at some special events, like this weekend’s homecoming dance.

Randolph County Schools Superintendent Debbie Schmidlen attended Friday’s event along with Randolph County Board member Sherri Collett and two representatives from First Lady Cathy Justice’s office, Katie Morris and Serena Williams.

Justice was scheduled to attend Friday’s rally, but officials announced Friday morning that she was unable to attend.

“I’m so excited to be included in this presentation today,” Schmidlen said. “We are very thankful that we have the opportunity to have a therapy dog at Elkins High School.

“This is an additional resource that can help our students and help our staff as well at Elkins High School… We are so appreciative of this opportunity and we are excited about this program.”

Tora coming to the school is part of Justice’s Friends With Paws program that places certified therapy dogs in various schools across West Virginia. Schools are required to have a Community in Schools Program (CIS) in place in order to qualify for a therapy dog.

“You are very lucky, you are only one of 16 counties right now in the state that has a therapy dog in school,” Morris told the students. “We are excited to see what kind of work Tora does at your school.”

Trainer Izzy Smith from Ultimate K-9, the company that provides the dogs and trains them, attended the event and showed the students some of the commands Tora responds to, such as heeling, sitting, laying and shaking hands.

“Tora is 11 months old and her hobbies include giving hugs and playing fetch,” Smith said. “I know you guys will all enjoy her and she is going to enjoy all of you guys.”

Seven therapy dogs are being placed in schools across the Mountain State this year, which will bring the total amount to 19 placed by the program. 

The Friends With Paws program, which was created in the spring of 2022, places therapy dogs in schools where students are disproportionately affected by poverty, substance misuse, or other at-risk situations. 

The dogs serve as a healthy and friendly outlet for students to address trauma and other social or emotional issues they may be having.

Mark Rosencrance, Tim Patrick, Katie Preusch and Aaron Talbott will be the handlers for Tora. Patrick and Preusch are both teachers at EHS, while Talbott is a guidance counselor. Rosencrance is the CIS Site Coordinator at Elkins High School. Patrick will be the primarily handler of the dog.

“We are excited to have Tora as part of the Elkins High School family,” Rosencrance said. “She is definitely going to be a great addition and she will provide even more support for the kids at our school.”

The “Pup Rally” was followed by a traditional pep rally as Elkins High School began celebrating homecoming weekend.