Dog is more than a friend at Bryan Middle School

Allie inspired other schools in Ohio to begin similar therapy dog programs.
BRYAN, Ohio (AP) -- Carrying a stuffed mallard duck in her mouth, Allie walks the halls, toenails click-clicking, like she owns the place.
A full-fledged, soft-furred staff member at Bryan Middle School, the 6-year-old golden retriever works like a dog.
From the morning bell to the "see-you-later" afternoon good-byes, Monday through Friday. Week in, week out.
In the mornings, she takes attendance slips to the school office. In the counselor's office, she listens to stressed-out pupils. In a classroom, she serves as a shiny-coat example of proper hair care during a lesson on hygiene.
Allie calls the school home. And the staff and pupils? They call her friend. They say she's special and cool, smart and kind. Pretty much perfect.
Well, she is a dog.
Christmas dog
Allie was a Christmas gift to the Bryan student body in December 2004. She lives with Jackie Boyd, a Bryan Middle School counselor who adopted the professionally trained therapy dog.
Just one year later, Allie has made a name for herself.
She has won an Innovative Program in School Counseling award from the Ohio School Counselor Association for her ongoing efforts and those of Bryan school counselors.
She makes guest appearances at area functions, such as Rotary and Kiwanis meetings.
"All of this just has been snowballing," said Boyd about what's become known as The Allie Program and the canine's role in the community.
And her success story as a therapy dog is breeding interest in the pooch-in-school program.
Administrators at Tiffin and Findlay city schools have applied for therapy dogs, said Chris Diefenthaler, executive director of Assistance Dogs of America, a Swanton-based organization that trained Allie and other service and therapy dogs.
A Columbus charter school has been approved for the Assistance Dogs of America program, and a dog for that school is being trained.
Allie was placed in 2001 with a man who'd had a stroke at a young age. He died in 2003, and Allie was returned to Assistance Dogs of America so she would have the opportunity to serve others.
She proved the old adage isn't true: You can teach an older dog new tricks.
After additional training, Diefenthaler called Shelley Wanner, a counselor at Bryan Middle School who had been working with the organization and students on a service learning project -- children "adopted" dogs in training at the Swanton facility; created scrapbooks about the dogs, and made and sold dog biscuits to raise money to benefit animals.
Diefenthaler asked whether the school would be interested in having its own therapy dog.
"We thought it would be wonderful," said Wanner.
The Allie Program is truly a pioneer project, Diefenthaler said.
"The counselors there are not modeling it after something they have seen before. I provided the tool -- Allie and her personality and her training -- and they have taken off with it. They made it a success," she said.
Terrific asset
That success has touched the lives of classmates, staff members, parents and others in the community.
"Allie has been a terrific asset," said Beth Hollabaugh, principal of Bryan Middle School's fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-graders. "She brings the kids to life. She draws out kids who are having problems and difficulties."
It's tough to be grumpy when a dog carrying a squeaky toy nudges your hand.
This famous Fido is well known in the community for what she does, and for what she doesn't do.
She doesn't lie or cheat. She doesn't question or offend. She doesn't ridicule or call names. She doesn't judge you on the clothes you wear or the color of your skin.
As a healer, a helper, a teacher and a protector, a counselor and a trusted friend, she's an inspiration, sparking smiles and triggering tears of joy. She calms the angry. She dries the tears. She heals the hurts.
"This is academics in action, purposeful learning," said fourth-grade teacher Kathy Clark. "We need to teach kids to give and to help others."
A new friend
John Aragon, 14, was having some trouble making friends last year. He set a goal: make three new friends. "Allie was my first friend," he said. "She's a quiet, loving, caring dog. She likes me. She definitely likes me."
Cody Drinnon, 14, said he visits Allie a few times a day, every day. "My dog died a little while ago. With Allie here, she can keep me company. We're friends, we're buddies."
And when Allie needs the schoolchildren, they're there for her.
A cancer survivor, Allie missed several days of school because of surgeries. While she was away, pupils drew pictures of her, they wrote stories about her and they sent get-well wishes to her.
"I asked my mom if I could stay up late and make her a card," 10-year-old Brieanna Claunch recalled.
With a small grant from the Academic Boosters Club in Bryan, Boyd and Wanner are starting a small library with books about animals and what pets can teach. It's possible that one day, the library will feature the story of Allie, the golden retriever with the golden heart.