BOONE COUNTY, WV (WOWK) – The students at Sherman High School in Boone County met their new “Friends with Paws” support dog Friday.

Meet Captain! The happy-go-lucky golden retriever has the perfect personality to help students in tough situations. He’s the newest support animal in West Virginia First Lady Cathy Justice’s initiative to provide a healthy, friendly outlet for students to address trauma and emotional struggles.

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Breaking News

“The dog just gravitated toward kids, and the kids just fell in love with him instantly,” said Todd Barnette, Sherman HS principal. “And Captain’s going to have a good home here at Sherman High School, the home of the Tide. So our clipper ship out front now has got a new Captain, and we’re looking forward to having him.”

“Within two minutes of meeting Captain I was able to see how he can change the mood of an entire room. Seeing students in crisis go from tears to smiles while interacting with him was inspiring.  Sherman High School students and staff have been working hard to improve the culture of our school this year,” Sherman High Communities In Schools Site Coordinator Matthew White said. “Captain was making a positive culture change before he ever arrived at his new home. I cannot wait to see how he can help us in the future. I am so thankful we have been given this opportunity.”

The Friends with Paws program was launched in 2022. Since then, 23 “pawsome” companions have been brought to schools throughout the Mountain State that need the assistance the most, where students and their communities are disproportionately impacted by at-risk situations such as poverty and substance misuse.

The program is a partnership between WV Gov. Jim Justice’s office, the WV Department of Education and the West Virginia Communities in Schools (CIS) Nonprofit.

Schools that now have a Friends with Paws therapy dog include:

• Coal, a male Black Labrador, at Welch Elementary, McDowell County
• Foster, a male Golden Labradoodle, at Buckhannon Academy Elementary, Upshur County
• Jasper, a female Yellow Labrador, at Lewis County High School, Lewis County
• River, a male Yellow Labrador, at Pineville Elementary School, Wyoming County
• Shadow, a male Black Labrador, at Moorefield Elementary School, Hardy County
• Jet, a male Yellow Labrador, at Spring Mills High School, Berkeley County
• Kylo, a male Black Labrador, at Lenore PK-8 School, Mingo County
• Winnie, a female Apricot and White Labradoodle, at Wayne Elementary School, Wayne County
• Kasha, a female Yellow Labrador, at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, Pocahontas County
• Marshal, a male Cream Labradoodle, at Hinton Area Elementary School, Summers County
• Louie, a male Yellow Labrador, at Bridgeview Elementary School, Kanawha County
• Oakley, a male Apricot and Cream Labradoodle, at Oakvale Elementary School, Mercer County
• Ruby, a female Golden Retriever, at Greenbrier East High School, Greenbrier County
• Malfoy, a male Yellow Labrador, at Chapmanville Intermediate School, Logan County
• Tora, a female Yellow Labrador, at Elkins High School, Randolph County
• Skye, a female Brown Labradoodle, at Berkeley Springs High School, Morgan County
• Penny, a female Yellow Labrador, at Pendleton County Middle/High School, Pendleton County
• Nutter, a male Brown Labrador, at Ravenswood High School, Jackson County
• Meadow, a female Yellow Labrador, at Washington Lands Elementary School, Marshall County
• Clara, a female Golden Retriever, at Brooke Middle School, Brooke County
• Parker, a male Golden Retriever, at Wheeling Park High School, Ohio County
• Pixie, a female Apricot Labradoodle, at Lewisburg Elementary School, Greenbrier County
• Captain, a male Golden Retriever at Sherman High School, Boone County

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOWK 13 News.