NEW MARTINSVILLE, W.Va. (WTRF) — More than two dozen West Virginia schools have a Friend with Paws thanks to the state’s therapy dog program, and those pawprints have just made their way up to Wetzel County.

There were barks of excitement as a Labrador retriever walked through the gym and into the hearts of the K through 8 students Wednesday.

Molly is the school’s newest resident, a nine-month-old puppy who’s always down for a meet-and-greet, and isn’t afraid to roll over when need be.

She’s the state’s 28th Friends with Paws program placement, a collaboration with Communities in Schools to give students an outlet from their those sometimes overwhelming days.

And when they call her name—Molly is trained to come running.

“The word has gotten out about the dogs and people contact us and we just kind of vet everybody and see where the dogs will fit and the need for it. And it’s great. It’s a home run.”

CATHY JUSTICE, WEST VIRGINIA FIRST LADY

The program’s creator and state First Lady Cathy Justice personally came to the ‘pup rally,’ along with her husband Governor Jim Justice and the state’s mascot and most famous mastiff Babydog.

Governor Justice says it’s a learning team that’s proven itself all over the world.
In his words, the tap of an attentive paw is soothing, calming, encouraging, reinforcing, and happiness itself.

The governor remembered one special needs child who didn’t want to go to school at all, until he found a four-legged reason to get on the bus.

“When he was there, they filmed him, you know, reading to the dog and everything. And they walked up to him and said, ‘How’s your day been?’ And he said, ‘Best day ever.'”

GOV. JIM JUSTICE, (R) WEST VIRGINIA

Wetzel County Schools

NMS Welcomes Molly - Friends with Paws