JANESVILLE, Wis. (AP) - Nahla was an extraordinary educator.
True, she drooled more than other teachers and often let her tongue just loll out of her mouth, The Janesville Gazette (https://bit.ly/2sSidp2 ) reported.
But she also allowed students to lean against her and stroke her ears. Some of them tried to ride on her back, and once a kid performed an impromptu dental inspection on her back molars.
She never complained.
This month, Nahla the therapy dog will retire from service. Her handler, Kathy White, an assistive technology specialist for the Janesville School District, will continue to work without her brindle-colored companion and helper.
“She’s just getting old,” said White, who lives in Delavan. “She’s 8 years old, and Great Danes usually live from six to eight years.”
Eight years in Great Dane equals about 80 in people years, White said.
Like many 80-year-olds, Nahla is having trouble with one of her legs, and her hips are stiff and arthritic.
White’s job takes her all over the school district, and the getting in and out of cars, walking on slippery floors and working with unpredictable children takes a toll on her. And by “her” we mean Nahla, not White.
“It’s time,” White said.
White didn’t plan for Nahla to be a therapy dog, but she seemed destined to fill the role.
White brought Nahla to school when she was just a puppy. White also has worked as a special education teacher, and she spends a lot of time with students who have special needs.
One student who used a wheelchair was exhibiting self-aggressive behaviors. Other teachers warned White: The student was having a bad day, and it might be best just to leave her alone.
But when White put Nahla on the student’s wheelchair tray, she immediately stopped what she was doing and began to stroke the puppy.
It was a great ah-ha moment: White realized her dog might have a calling.
White worked through Therapy Dog International to get Nahla’s certification.
The dog had to pass two citizenship tests. She failed the first one after eating a forbidden hot dog. Although hot dogs are delicious, therapy dogs are not supposed to eat random stuff off the floor while they are working.
Nahla also had to show that she wasn’t bothered by the movement of wheelchairs, loud or unexpected noises - think fire drill in a middle school - or any other surprising stuff kids do.
Kids leaned on her, stroked or pulled her ears, and gave her those arms-around-the-neck hugs that are both marvelous and disconcerting.
White remembers one child who pulled the dog’s jaw down and put his hand in her mouth. Nahla was perplexed but didn’t get upset.
More than anything, Nahla’s presence created unexpected connections between teachers and students, and students and the school. She made kids feel better.
“I think she was meant to do this work,” White said. “Why else would she know to nudge a kid in the arm and put her head on his lap when that kid was having a bad day? She is so large and so calming for kids.”
For students who hated going to school, the promise of seeing Nahla was a motivator.
Nahla will continue to do some therapy work in nursing homes and at the Aram Public Library in Delavan, just to keep her paw in the business.
She’ll miss her usual gig in the Janesville schools.
Nahla loved going to w-o-r-k. That you have to spell out the word so Nahla doesn’t hear it is a testament to her devotion to the job.
Even in retirement, she exudes unconditional love and kind but calm curiosity: “Hey, how ya doing? Having a good day? I’m going to put my giant head right next to yours. Don’t you feel better already?”
Yes, indeed we do.
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Information from: The Janesville Gazette, https://www.gazetteextra.com
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