HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – A guidance counselor at Indian Hills Elementary has introduced a new furry friend to students this year in order to build connections and provide comfort. With her name proudly representing the school, one-year-old Hilly has spent her entire life in training for her role of therapy dog. Adopted by Sarah Pinson, who has worked as a guidance counselor at IHE for the past six years, Hilly is growing and learning alongside students.
“Students that won’t talk to me will tell things to her in full sentences,” Pinson told Christian County Now. “Then they connect me to Hilly, so now they will talk with me, so it helps with that relationship building…the kids seem to be excited about her.”
As a celebrity in the school already, one of Hilly’s duties day-to-day is helping kids act appropriately while in line in the hallway. When making her rounds during transitional times, student’s faces immediately light up when they see her coming, giving quiet waves and big smiles while staying in a straight line. She also sits in on guidance lessons with the younger age groups and time with her is offered up as a reward for student behavior.
CCPS Communications Director Johnna Brown said Hilly is the first and only therapy dog owned utilized on a regular basis by a staff member in the district right now, but that may change in the future.
Ongoing training, puppy mentality
As part of her ongoing training, Hilly has learned to immediately soothe new people she meets. When someone sits next to her, she offers one of those big smiles that only a dog can give, rests her head in their lap, and looks up at them reassuringly with her big brown eyes.
Pinson said this specific posture and the pressure Hilly applies to a person’s body is intentionally meant to calm them. Her training also required general obedience skills and being comfortable around kids. Pinson said, “For deescalation purposes too, as long as the student is being safe, she can help them.”
Training is ongoing to brush up on her skills and learn new things. Despite her obedience, her personability and puppy mentality visibly pops through as she is often wiggling around playfully and chewing on her leash.
“She is very much a puppy at home,” Pinson said, adding that she enjoys playing with her other dog. Choosing Hilly required a lot of research on her part into what kids would respond to best. This included deciding everything from the ideal coat color to the floppiness of her ears.
Forms were sent home at the beginning of the year announcing Hilly’s arrival and in order to prepare students, Pinson spent several days introducing her to over two dozen classrooms. This was done to teach students how to safely interact with her and explain her role, so they feel the most comfortable.
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