District welcomes Daisy

SANDUSKY — The newest enrollee at Sandusky Central Catholic School has more legs than any other student and just might be the friendliest. Meet Daisy, the 1-year-old golden retriever who just started work as the district's new facility dog. Daisy is a facility dog, similar to a service dog. The difference is Daisy supports everyone she comes into contact with rather than a specific person, district officials said. Her job description: act as school counselor Meagan Howman's top assistant. Howman said Daisy stays with her in her office and joins her on outings whenever appropriate. In her first week on the job, her recent adventures included meeting: • First- and second-grade students for recess • Sixth-grade students in a classroom where she was used for one of Howman's daily lessons, which incorporated positive coping skills, like petting a dog; She said it reduces anxiety and controls emotions. "That idea of emotional support is what we're going for," Howman said. "That extra comfort that sometimes we humans can't provide." The room was filled with "Awws," "She's so cute," "Come here, Daisy" and "I want to take her home" as Daisy made her way around the room getting attention from each student. This is Howman's second four-legged co-worker to sit in this position after the school's previous facility dog, Zahara, passed away. After the loss of Zahara, Howman said staff and students alike asked her if and when another furry friend would join the school. After five weeks, Daisy was on duty. "It's nice to have a dog back in the building," Howman said. "I can't put a number to it, but the mood and spirit is so much better with a dog in the building." The journey of welcoming Zahara and now Daisy into the school started about seven years ago when Howman presented the idea to donors. Judy and Dick Kinzel, the latter being the former CEO of Cedar Point who has family connections to the school, told the school, "When you guys are ready, I got you."