Bathgate and Castille each have facility dogs on their campuses, provided by Canine Companions. Facility dogs are highly trained and trustworthy dogs partnered with a professional facilitator who directly serves clients with special needs. Facility dogs are trained in over 40 commands that are utilized in hospital, rehabilitation, speech/physical/occupational therapy, and criminal justice settings. These service dogs are specially bred for this line of work and the tasks they are trained to perform are used to help motivate and often rehabilitate clients within the facility where they are working.
Alana is the Canine Companion of Bathgate Principal Natalie Odebunmi, and joined the Bathgate community this August. Alana is a constant presence on campus, welcoming students as they arrive, visiting classrooms, and patrolling the tables at lunch. She is always available for a student who needs a moment to calm down or feel safe. Principal Odebunmi had another dog previously, Heffel, that spent time with the Blazers.
Connie is the Canine Companion of Castille special education teacher Vanessa Kaluger. Connie is in her first year working with the Castille students, as Mrs. Kaluger has been thinking about integrating a dog into her classroom for a few years. She took time off last year to go through training with Canine Companions and brought Connie into the classroom this year to assist with the students in her Mod/Severe Autism classroom. Connie serves a variety of roles, including deep pressure therapy, facilitating language with other students, and modeling behavior. Connie has learned how to press the bathroom button, showing non-verbal students how they can request to use the bathroom.
