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Northville Public Schools Expands Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Dog Program

A young girl with long, strawberry-blonde hair and a green jacket smiles while kneeling beside a yellow Labrador Retriever. The dog, wearing a black harness with a patch, sits calmly on a striped carpet in what appears to be a school or community center setting.

Northville Public Schools is proud to announce a significant expansion of our Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) dog program, bringing full-time canine support to Northville High School, our middle schools, and Cooke School.

This initiative marks a deepening of the district’s commitment to supporting the whole child. By integrating highly trained SEL dogs into the daily fabric of our schools, Northville is providing students and staff with a powerful tool for emotional regulation, stress reduction, and connection.

From Visitors to Full-Time Staff

While Northville has long benefited from a successful visiting therapy dog program—which currently includes 12 teams district-wide—this expansion introduces a new level of consistency.

Unlike visiting dogs, these four new SEL dogs are full-time members of their school communities. They are specifically trained to work in educational settings, helping students navigate the complexities of the school day in real-time. Whether a student is dealing with a moment of heightened emotion or simply needs a calming presence to persevere through a challenge, these dogs are there to help exactly when they are needed most.

Meet the Newest Mustangs

The district is thrilled to welcome four new furry faces to the family, each assigned to a specific building to foster long-term relationships with students:

  • Brulee – Northville High School (NHS)
  • Jesper – Hillside Middle School
  • Kane – Meads Mill Middle School
  • Nick – Cooke School

A Compassionate Future

Northville Public Schools remains dedicated to innovative, compassionate approaches to student well-being. The addition of Brulee, Jesper, Nick, and Kane represents a proactive step in meeting the evolving emotional needs of our student body.

We look forward to the positive impact these four-legged professionals will have on our students' lives as they become an integral part of the Northville community. This Friday marks an especially exciting milestone as our four newest staff members wrap up their very first full week in their respective buildings.

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A yellow Labrador Retriever wearing a black service dog vest walks across a gray carpeted office floor while carrying a bright teal plush toy ball in its mouth.
A yellow Labrador Retriever wearing a black service harness lies down on a gray patterned office carpet, looking upward with an expectant expression. A small, mint-green plush toy sits on the floor just out of reach of its front paws.
A yellow Labrador Retriever in a black service vest performs a %22play bow%22 on a gray office carpet. Its front paws and chest are lowered to the floor as it nudges a teal plush toy, while its hindquarters remain standing. A pink braided leash rests on the floor beside it.
A person wearing a white cable-knit sweater and black pants sits in an office chair and leans down to hug a yellow Labrador Retriever. The dog, which has a pink braided leash, holds its teal plush toy in its mouth while resting its head against the person's lap.
A yellow Labrador Retriever wearing a black service vest with the name %22JESPER%22 walks across a gray carpeted office floor. The dog is holding a teal plush toy in its mouth and has a pink and red braided leash trailing behind it. In the blurred background, a person in a white sweater sits at a desk.
A yellow Labrador Retriever in a black service vest lies on a gray office carpet, leaning its head down to investigate a round, mint-green plush toy. A pink and red braided leash is held by a person sitting in a chair nearby, extending toward the dog's collar.
A yellow Labrador Retriever wearing a black harness with the name %22KANE%22 stands in an office while several people gather around to pet it. One person in a white fuzzy sweater sits in a chair and rests their hand on the dog's head, while others stand nearby in a casual setting with desks and office chairs.
A close-up of a yellow Labrador Retriever sitting calmly on an office carpet. A person wearing an orange long-sleeved shirt is gently petting the top of the dog's head with their right hand. The dog has a relaxed, soft expression and is looking toward the left.
A yellow Labrador Retriever wearing a black service vest lies on a dark gray orthopedic dog bed placed against a white brick wall. A bright lime-green tennis ball sits on the bed near its front paws, and a curved chew toy lies on the floor nearby. The dog is looking directly at the camera with a calm, attentive expression.
A close-up, high-angle view of a yellow Labrador Retriever resting on a gray dog bed. The dog wears a black service vest featuring a %22Campus K9s%22 logo. A bright lime-green ball sits on the bed near its front paw, and a colorful patterned toy is visible in the corner against a white brick wall.
A yellow Labrador Retriever stands on a blue and gray tiled floor in what appears to be a classroom or therapy room. The dog wears a black service vest with a red braided leash looped through the handle, a teal collar, and a bone-shaped ID tag. It is looking slightly off-camera with a gentle, calm expression. In the background, blue chairs and the legs of several people are visible.
A close-up, medium shot of a calm yellow Labrador Retriever sitting on a blue and gray tiled floor. The dog is wearing a black service harness with a red braided leash attached, as well as a teal collar with a bone-shaped ID tag. In the background, a blue classroom chair and the wheels of a piece of equipment are partially visible.
A yellow Labrador Retriever lies on a low-pile office carpet while a person in a gray sweatshirt gently pets its head. The dog is wearing a black service vest with a light green dispenser attached to the side and a pink braided leash. In the background, a red ball and the wheels of an office chair are visible.
A side profile of a yellow Labrador Retriever sitting in front of a gray stone wall. The dog is looking upward and wears a black service vest with the name %22BRULEE%22 on the side. A pink and orange braided leash is attached to its collar, which also has a pink bone-shaped tag. To the left, a person’s legs in black tights and gray boots are partially visible.

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Northville Public Schools