Dog Provides Emotional Support In Poplar School

Poplar students can find some extra loving support during the school day thanks to the emergence of a friendly dog.

Ted Fulgham, agriculture teacher at the school, explains that the dog, named Red Dog by the students, has been a welcomed visitor at the school.

“He just wandered in one day,” Fulgham explained. “Now every morning, he’s here.”

Fulgham approached the high school principal and then the school board about using the dog as an emotional support animal for the students.

“They all said, we will give it a shot,” Fulgham said.

He noted that the dog can calm some students down emotionally and even decrease their blood pressure.

“He comes in and he’s very non-aggressive,” Fulgham said of Red Dog. “If the kids feel stressful during the day, they pet him.”

Between class periods, Red Dog stands in the doorway in case any of the students want to greet him or give him a quick pat.

Fulgham had Red Dog checked out by a veterinarian to make sure he was healthy and up to date with shots.

The teacher says that the school’s FFA chapter might work with Red Dog for a supervised agriculture experience project.

At the end of the school, Red Dog either stays in the classroom for the night or he is let out the back door. The next morning, he is ready for some additional attention and to provide some more support.

“The kids take good care of him,” Fulgham said. “He gets a lot of attention. There’s a lot of petting and a lot of holding him.”