The official student news site of Algonquin Regional High School in Northborough, MA

Submitted Sara Stein

Peppah/Pepper

Pepper, a 9 year old Havanese, joins English teacher Sara Stein on Fridays in H203 as a new therapy dog. Stein translated for Pepper in this interview.

What are your hobbies? Secret talents?

“My hobbies include tearing up tissues and napkins, sniffing for chipmunks and larger animals, as well as waking people up in the morning. I can stand on two feet and spin, lay down, roll over and do the cha-cha.”

What are your favorite treats?

“I really like Greenies. They are good for your teeth and breath, and they are the biggest cookies I get, and only once per day, so it is special.” 

Do you have any bad habits?

“A lady never tells her secrets, but, for you, I sometimes stalk the dinner table while people are still eating. I know, shame.”

What is your favorite place to go for a walk?

“I live locally in Southborough, so I have two favorites: [one of them is] the Southborough golf course where I can run off leash in the wintertime with my friends. I also like to do something my family calls the big loop where I walk down White Bagley Road [in Southborough]. It is thrilling because the cars go so fast by me, and it’s along a trail on the reservoir where there are a lot of excellent smells.”

Why are you excited to be a therapy dog?

“I already know the words work and school. When I hear them, I wag my tail and head for the car. I like to lie in my bed and get petted there. Sometimes there are people… who like to hold me in class…After that, I check in with mom and typically go back to my bed. The kids have been really nice to me and patient while I learn their smells; so many have their own pets. I really like how kind people have been to me and how they are excited to see me and make me feel loved. I like when my students slow down and take a little time to relax with me.”

Bruno

Bruno, an 11-year-old rescue dog from Sterling, MA, has recently joined the Algonquin community as a therapy dog in his owner Angela Moll’s classroom. Bruno is available on Day 6 in H123.

What are his hobbies? Secret talents?

“His hobbies are removing all the stuffing from any toy, even if it’s a ‘tough’ toy, bothering his brothers and sisters at home- human, canine and feline- and pretty much just following me around. He has a job as a hospice volunteer… I have patients in central Mass and he comes with me.”

What are his favorite treats?

“Anything. If you were to ask him, he would say Bully Sticks. They’re supposed to last, and he destroys them. Not bad for a dog who has, like, four missing front teeth.”

Does he have any bad habits?

“After 11 years, he still barks at the mailman. He doesn’t like to let people in until he has thoroughly sniffed them, and his favorite activity is watching people eat, waiting for that one crumb to fall.”

What is his favorite place to go for a walk?

“The hills of Berlin.”

Why is he excited to be a therapy dog?

“It gets [him] out of the house. He’s excited to be a therapy dog because he actually loves people. He will walk up and down [the aisles]; it’s too bad he’s eleven and not five.”

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