Piper and Lassie bring waggy tails, furry coats, and unconditional love
When students in Highland Park ISD went back to the classroom in January, two furry, four-legged friends were there to meet them.
Piper and Lassie were introduced to families in December as the district’s new trained therapy dogs. In the short time they’ve been on campuses, the Bernedoodle puppies have already left their pawprints on teachers, students, and the community.
The dogs’ presence changes the mood of the schools, explained HPISD police chief and Piper’s handler Mark Rowden. The pups’ impact begins when they start the day by greeting high schoolers on Westchester Drive. Students often ask if they can pet Piper and Lassie as they pass through Highland Park High School’s doors.
“Their faces instantly brighten up when they see the dogs,” Rowden said. “They’ll tell us when they walk away, ‘You’ve made my day,’ or ‘This makes today better’ … It just makes us feel better knowing that we’ve done that, or we were able to help.”
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Piper and Lassie have set paw on every HPISD campus. They’ve visited with special needs children, anxious students, and those who have suffered trauma, and “they’ve been successful every time,” Rowden said.
Piper recently helped a class of preschoolers at University Park Elementary learn about community helpers. The puppy was calm and attentive to the district’s youngest learners.
“You could just see my kids’ faces light up the minute she walked in the door,” teacher Katie Barrow said. “Just smiles across the board.”
At the beginning of January, Lassie comforted a distressed Highland Park basketball player during a game against Wakeland High School.
Lassie “loves people, loves to be cuddled, and has a unique ability to notice when people are sad,” explained her handler Michael Bridgewater, who is both HPHS student resource officer and a University Park Police officer.
Unsurprisingly, these top dogs have attained rock-star status among students.
“You can’t walk out in the hall without being swarmed by kids. That’s really nice, but it’s also very difficult when you’re trying to get the dog out to go to the bathroom,” Rowden said with a laugh.
Piper and Lassie were able to join HPISD thanks to the support of La Fiesta de las Seis Banderas. After working with the district to determine its needs, the Highland Park Education Foundation approached La Fiesta about funding a single therapy dog. La Fiesta loved the idea — it granted sufficient funds for two.
Rowden selected Piper and Lassie from a breeder in Oklahoma with guidance from expert trainers Hilton and Christine Butler, who personally evaluated the dogs. The pups are half-sisters. Piper, who was born on April 13, is technically a mini Bernedoodle, and will weigh up to 40 pounds as an adult. Lassie, who was born on June 14, is a standard Bernedoodle and already weighed about 32 pounds by mid-December. She’ll be between 60 and 80 pounds when fully grown.
Like the students they serve, these puppies are still learning. They’ll continue training to maintain their skills and extinguish any bad habits. Highland Park alumnus Geoff Bratton and the team at Holt Veterinary Clinic are working to ensure the pups have a lifetime of good health. Bratton has donated free and reduced cost services to care for the dogs in perpetuity.
These puppies have a busy future ahead of them. They’re a community resource, and their roles will extend beyond HPISD. Lassie will go on patrol in University Park with Officer Bridgewater when school is out. Both dogs will also be made available to Highland Park and SMU and will assist elsewhere in the region if their services are needed.
But, just like teachers and students, Piper and Lassie need to take breaks. After their busy days at school, the tired dogs take off their collars and relax at the homes of their handlers.
Piper’s favorite toy is a stuffed Lamb Chop, and she sometimes engages in “Lambie wars” with Officer Rowden’s other pups. Lassie likes the black Kong Wubba dog toy she keeps in her kennel. She chews and lays her head on it.
Both dogs seem to love their work caring for HPISD’s teachers, students, and staff. Do they have the best jobs ever?
“Yes,” Rowden said. “And we’ve got the second-best job, because we get to see it.”
