Zoe Severson is just like the average staff member. She comes to school every day, is featured on the staff page of the yearbook and supports students. However, there is one big difference between Zoe and her coworkers: she is a dog.

Zoe’s owner Will Severson has been a special education teacher for almost 30 years and has owned several labrador retrievers. He and his wife decided they didn’t want their next dog to sit at home while they both spent all day working, Severson asked administration if he could bring Zoe to school. When they said yes, he got her certified as a therapy dog, and she started to work.

“Her main function is just to be that soothing place to go,” Severson said. “Kids go sit next to her and pet her. I’ve had kids with emotional issues who will come up and spend time with her. Like all pets, you can talk to her and she is just there for you.”

Zoe is eight years old and is in her eighth year of working at the school. Severson has many stories of Zoe helping people over the years, including soothing students and their parents.

“One of the students was terrified of dogs and he would always come in and say, ‘Mr. Severson! Put Zoe on her leash!’” Severson said. “I would do it and Zoe would stay behind the desk on her leash. Slowly but surely, he would go over and sit on the floor and pet her from afar, then get closer and closer and closer.”

Though Zoe is older and slower than she used to be, Severson said she is still a great helper in the classroom.

“Even now, if someone’s crying or someone’s really upset she tends to go there and know that,” he said. “I’ve had meetings where parents will cry and the next thing you know, the mom’s arm is [petting Zoe] because Zoe came over and sat there.”

In addition to being helpful to students in special education classes, Zoe provides support to all students. Even those outside the classes are allowed and encouraged to pet Zoe when they see her, as she needs lots of attention.

“She’s not a working dog,” Severson said. “The [dogs] they don’t want you touching are usually the ones that are assigned to one single person.”

The duo arrives to school each morning in a motorcycle, with Zoe riding in the sidecar.

Severson knows Zoe has ensured the well-being and happiness of many people throughout her years of working and hopes she will continue to do so in the future.

“She’s kind of a safe place,” Severson said. “Any place with a dog is a good place.”