Bailey spreads out good vibes in Wega-Fremont schools
By James Card
The bell rings and trainees put out the class. Some women go by the high school commons location and gently coo, “Bailey, Bailey, Bailey.”
They collect around Bailey as if she were the most popular and enjoyed remaining in the school. They family pet her and touch her glamorous hair. Bailey is an eight-month old puppy that belongs to the Weyauwega Police Department.
Bailey uses a main authorities badge on her blue vest harness. She is a Bernedoodle, a cross in between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a poodle. Her police function is to be a school treatment dog and she is dealt with by School Resource Officer Heather DeGrand.
DeGrand has actually been a school resource officer given that 2018. She understood for a treatment dog years back and brought it up however it was tabled. Later it was raised once again and she got the thumbs-up.
“They are becoming a lot more common, especially with law enforcement agencies. I’ve been to local and national conferences for school resource officers. At the national one there were six therapy dogs there with officers. Wausau has two; New London has a social worker that has a therapy dog. I’ve had people reach out to me about my program and how it works. We’re going to see it more and more,” said DeGrand.
Wolf River Bernedoodles contributed Bailey to the authorities department. At other schools, DeGrand has actually seen Golden retrievers and Labrador blends. The benefit of a Bernedoodle is that their fur is hypoallergenic so more trainees can connect with her without worry of activating an allergic reaction and likewise they do not shed much hair which is a bonus offer for taking a trip in patrol lorries. Once complete grown, Bailey need to weigh around 45 pounds.
Take a Bailey Break
DeGrand has a workplace at the high school and trainees can can be found in to take a “Bailey Break.” When a trainee is feeling too overloaded with schoolwork or is handling some issues, they are totally free to drop in and pet her.
The workplace has actually a gate and Bailey has discovered to check out the school bells. As quickly as classes are dismissed and the corridors fill with trainees, she is at eviction prepared for attention.
“I’ve had kids tell me before they don’t like law enforcement. They would have barely said, ‘Hi’ to me before but now I’m having those kids willingly walk into my office and see Bailey and its helped me make that relationship with them,” said DeGrand.
Some trainees who are unable to take part in physical education can have the choice of walking with Bailey through the halls.
“They get credit for gym and Bailey is getting exercise and we can build that connection between me and the student. They can know that I’m someone they can come to and Bailey is here to build that bridge,” she said.
The greatest reason for a treatment dog in the school besides spreading out cheer is that the dog conserves the neighborhood a massive quantity of money and resources.
At a city board conference previously this year, Police Chief Brandon Leschke informed the council on the expenses of handling a psychological health crisis. An officer can be managed patrol and be bound for hours while attempting to get an individual aid with social services while other experts are pulled into the scenario to tend to the individual’s requirements.
The very same opts for schools that summon resources to deal with psychological health episodes.
“We’ve had students in full-blown panic attacks and we bring Bailey in and she lets the kids pet her and love on her and it brings them right out of the panic attack. Whereas before, we had to call Waupaca County Crisis and have them respond to get the kids out of a panic attack. Bailey is able to do it without having to go to that step,” said DeGrand.
It makes the staff happy, too. Some even described Bailey as “their” dog. It provides a tension relief and it’s a break from their typical daily scenarios.
DeGrand and Bailey hang out in all the schools in the district. Some instructors have actually purchased toys simply for when Bailey drops in the class.
School, work and play
Bailey went to obedience classes at Sleepy Creek Pet Lodge in New London and just recently finished the puppy-level training stage.
So far she has actually discovered the following commands: Heel, Sit, Stay, Come, Look, Touch, Down, and Leave it (crucial for dropped snacks in the corridors). Eventually she will do advanced training and make accreditations.
Overnight, Bailey sticks with DeGrand and after school gets to play outdoors with a blue heeler and DeGrand’s two-year old child. During school breaks, Bailey will be at summertime school and the department is intending on releasing her to checking out programs at the library and other neighborhood activities. It is essential to keep her hectic.
“She definitely misses school. During Christmas she was getting a little stir crazy at home. She knows her job,” said DeGrand.
There is one odd aspect of Bailey: her tail appears like it was docked however when she was born her tail bones were looped and merged together forming a brief nub. It triggers her no issues and it is of no veterinary issue.
DeGrand mentions that this is unique since Bailey, like everybody, was born a little bit various which’s simply great. It is something the trainees can connect to.
