Blondie isn’t yet top dog at West Central School, but she’s doing her best to ease into the job. The 5-year-old Labrador/golden retriever cross often works alongside Franklin County DD’s veteran facility dog, Lion, who is set to retire later this spring.

West Central intervention specialist Patti Saniel-Banrey jokes that “Blondie is the little sister Lion never asked for.”

The two look much alike but have different backgrounds: Lion is a trained service dog, while Blondie is a certified therapy dog approved to work in school settings. Like Lion, Blondie started out with Canine Companions, but she had a little trouble sticking with some of the commands. “She decided that being a service dog was not her passion,” said Saniel-Banrey, who adopted the younger dog. “She’s a lover.”

Blondie arrives at school eager for affection and attention. “She’s very happy to greet everybody,” Saniel-Banrey said, and enjoys taking part in the walking group activity. She’s getting used to navigating around wheelchairs.

Lion makes it clear he’s still the expert, and occasionally intercepts Blondie if he wants in on the action. But after seven years of facility-dog work at three different schools, the 9-year-old also likes to relax. “In the morning I’ll say, ‘Who’s ready to go to work?’ Half the time, Lion will go back to bed,” Saniel-Banrey said.  

Interest in facility and therapy dogs for schools is “really taking off,” and Saniel-Banrey is proud of the work Lion and Blondie do. “We have a student whose family has put in an application for a service dog,” she said. “That’s spreading the word about the mission.”