SpicyTricks

Many students at OHS have seen a Golden Labrador in a vest walking around the campus.

His name is Charlie and he is here to stay.

Charlie is the first service dog to ever work in Orange County schools. He has been trained for this job his entire life. He is a certified Americans with Disabilities (ADA) dog trained specifically to meet his owner’s needs. Charlie specializes in deep pressure touch, meaning that, by using his own body, he is able to calm down his owner if needed. He is also able to calm down his owner in cases of meltdowns, running away, etc.

Since he was 8 weeks old, Charlie was trained in Harmony, NC, about an hour and 45 minutes away from Orange County. He first was trained to socialize well with humans, then underwent basic training, and finally completed intensive training.

In order for Charlie to come to OHS, administrative measures had to be taken in order for the legal aspect to be cleared. According to Laura Holmes, one of the Self Contained Teachers, “A policy had to be created and passed through the [school board].”

As with any service animal, OHS students should know to maintain proper etiquette with Charlie while he is working. When his vest is on, he is on the job and Charlie’s trainers want students and staff to give him space and not pet him while working.