Earlier this year, Smithtown East welcomed our new therapy dog, Sunny Rae, to the community. As we embrace this new beginning, we also wish to pause and honor the life of our former therapy dog, Ralphy. Ralphy was a dedicated companion who left a meaningful impact on everyone he met. He quickly became a beloved symbol of comfort, known for his wonderful personality and love of socializing. Whether playing with other dogs or meeting new people, he truly excelled at his most important job: brightening everyone’s day.

Our school’s new therapy dog is a young and playful pup from a  local breeder. Her gentle temperament and social personality makes her a perfect fit for our school. She loves going for walks, spending time with her family, and playing with her toys.

Therapy dogs are helpful animals to have at high schools. Around 1 in 3 high school students suffer from anxiety, and 1 in 5 suffer from depression. Therapy dogs offer social-emotional support to students and staff members. High school inevitably comes with a lot of changes and new environments. So, service dogs can offer feelings of relaxation and safety. 

To help welcome Sunny Rae to the High School East community, Ms. Warren encourages students and staff to be patient and supportive as she adjusts. After all, she has “big paws” to fill.