It is 7:20 AM on a Monday. High school students hurry into the school, trying to escape the chilly morning air. When they are finally surrounded by the warmth of the building, they realize there are tests to complete, papers to write, and standards to meet. As stress bombards them, a small figure in the distance catches their eye. There, in the main lobby, lies Dudley, the high school’s facility dog.
Dudley is a hybrid between a labrador and a golden retriever. He greets community members on days one, three, and six at the main entrance, and spends the rest of the day in Evolutions. To get this position, he had to become a certified facility dog.
While off duty, Dudley enjoys playing hide and seek with his favorite toy lambchop. According to Mindy Hoge, an Evolutions Teacher and Dudley’s owner, upon finding his lambchop toy, Dudley celebrates by throwing it into the air and running in circles. Dudley is pictured above with Campbell Solomon ’26. Photo courtesy of Mindy Hoge.
“I have had students tell me ‘I have tests all week. This really is the best way to start a Monday.’ as they pet Dudley,” said Hoge.
A facility dog is owned by someone who is an employee in the building. It differs from a service dog in its role within the community. Rather than focusing on one person, like a service dog does, a facility dog serves the entire community.
Dudley began his certification at just three and a half weeks old, and he continued for two and a half years. By the time he left Bergin College of Canine Studies, he knew well over fifty commands, eleven of which are connected directly to the work he does at the school now: sit, down, here, kiss, lap, roll, touch, and shake.
Hoge recounts a conversation she had with high school English teacher Mr. Stephen Bresnahan about Dudley’s impact on his route to school. Bresnahan told her that he makes sure to walk through the main entrance rather than his regular path through a side door. This way, he can see Dudley on days one, three, and six. Individuals like Bresnahan are among those Hoge calls “Dudley’s Superfans”.
Observing the impact that Dudley has on people, such as his “Superfans”, is part of the reason why Hoge wanted to bring him to the high school.
Hoge started the facility dog program back in 2015 with a dog named Dawn. While undergoing this process, she took into consideration allergies, fears, and overall discomfort when it came to dogs. While working alongside the nurses and administration, she was able to establish the program at the high school.
“Some students will tell me, ‘I needed that’ after running into Dudley in the hallway,” said Hoge.
Dudley snuggled next to science teacher Ms. Danielle Fuchs. Photo courtesy of Mindy Hoge.
Hoge strategically stays a sufficient distance away from the main entrance door with Dudley. This way, students who want to pet Dudley can, and students who don’t, will not have to. However, even students who do not approach Dudley are positively affected by him.
“I have seen the mere presence of Dudley make people smile,” said Hoge.
Dudley impacts people positively in ways that some may not even think of when they imagine a facility or therapy dog. Hoge stated that some students are not allowed to have a dog for various reasons, and Dudley is their way of living out that dream.
Because of the benefits of Dudley’s presence, Hoge believes that as long as the correct precautions are taken—the dog is a trained and certified facility or therapy dog, background work has been completed, and individuals feel comfortable, all high schools should have a facility dog.
“Each day I am greeted by Dudley, I immediately feel my stress levels decrease,” Eliza Sutherland ’26.