Tootsie teaches students 'lessons,' such as picking up trash and bringing joy. Photo: Courtesy: Allendale Public Schools.
ALLENDALE, Mich. -- The Allendale Public Schools welcomed a new student to classrooms at Evergreen Elementary School one week before Christmas 2025.
The student's skin is covered with fur, and she walks on four legs.
The service dog 'Tootsie" brought her gentle, playful personality to the school. Officials say she supports students and staff throughout the building by offering comfort, encouragement and a "friendly paw when it's needed," according to a social media post made by the district.
Tootsie was purchased through the Paws With a Cause organization, courtesy of a generous donation from the APS Foundat/AET. The PTO helped by funding supplies for her at the school. And the VCA Allendale Animal Hospital donated their Wellness Dog Plan to care for Tootsie.
As an assistance dog, she is still in the training phase, according to Student Services Coordinator Karie Wiersema, who helped spearhead the project. She told WOOD Radio that Tootsie is still learning.
The dog is having a big impact on the second- and third-grade students.
"Working with students one-on-one and in small groups," Wiersema said. "Just kind of getting a feel of what she's good at, what she's uncomfortable with."
And Tootsie is teaching the students some good habits, already.
"We're learning that she will pick up anything: any trash, any food, anything left on the floor," Wiersema said. "So, that's been a good learning tool for us, to work with a kid."
Perhaps most important, Tootsie brings joy to the students and staff.
"One of the students said, 'You know, it's really hard to be not happy when she's around.' And that's kind of the gist of it, right?" Wiersema said.
Research conducted by the National Institutes of Health shows that facility dogs can help reduce stress, foster positive connections, and create a welcoming environment for learning.
"She goes in the classroom. Everybody's tensions and stressors and stuff just kind of release," Wiersema said. "It just makes everybody happy and smile. You can see it walking her through the hallways; everybody's excited and waving at her."
And the benefit isn't just for students.
"Now staff is getting together at the end of the day," Wiersema. "They're coming into the office, where Tootsie usually ends up, and just spending like 20 or 30 minutes with each other, playing with the dog, laughing, talking to the other teachers and stuff like that. We haven't seen that in a long time. So, that's an added blessing."
Allendale Public Schools Foundation and the Allendale Encouragement Team funded the donation of the dog to the elementary school.
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