Feature | April 21, 2022
THE COMFORT DOGS: KANELAND EDITION BY KYRA MOTYKA
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wo beloved service dogs, Eunice how it would work,” Farran said. “It worked we going?’ She knows she’s going to be and Adeena, visit Kaneland every so very well. Adeena was the pioneer, and it with people when she sees her backpack often to provide emotional support went so well with her that they had about and vest,” Jan said. “The vest does not go to many of our students. Taking even five 20 or 25 dogs trained there after her.” on until we actually get out of the car, so minutes to pet the dogs and enjoy their When the prison closed, Lutheran she’s not wearing it unless she’s working.” presence can relieve stress and immedi- Church Charities (LCC) had to find their These hard-working dogs are able to ately benefit someone’s mental wellbe- own trainers with their own training pro- tell that it’s time for their work to begin ing. Students are always overwhelmed gram, which is where Eunice was trained. just by seeing their vests and backpacks. with joy to hear that the emotional sup“There are actually over 30 different “They’re trained with the vests on, port dogs are coming, but there is so commands that they’re trained for - the so they associate that when the vest much more to their stories than what you standard types of things that a registered goes on, they’re on their best behavior. might see during a brief encounter in the service dog would have,” Ray said. “In ad- When the vest comes off, they’re regular cafeteria. dition to that, the dogs are socialized [to dogs. They’re never really crazy and wild, “Adeena is a real rebut they can act like normal triever. She loves to play dogs,” Ray said. what we call ‘get-andAlthough students at give’ with a tennis ball. Kaneland mostly see them Throw it, and she’ll bring for fun, Eunice and Adeena it back. That is her favorhave both helped people ite thing,” Adeena’s carewho are healing after disasgiver and handler Shar trous situations. Farran said. “She also “We were all just in Bellikes to go to the feed videre schools. They had a store…she loves everytragedy there; they had a one at the feed store and fire and lost three students. all the different scents.” So we get emergency calls While Adeena’s faand go in for things like that vorite hobby might be to calm down a situation and playing fetch with a tengive comfort,” Farran said. nis ball, Eunice prefers “[At Kaneland], we’re here a real chase. She likes to for fun and some de-stressrun around and hunt aning. We know that schools imals. are a spot for stress.” “[Eunice] is more of The Pemollers agreed a hunter, so if there’s a that the dogs are able to absquirrel outside, she’ll sorb the stress of humans. go and chase it,” Eunice’s “I think the dogs will caregiver and handler take the stress of the people Jan Pemoller said. “She into themselves,” Jan said. “I gets her exercise.” don’t know how to explain Fetching tennis balls it.” and chasing squirrels “I mean, when we’ve only scratch the surface been in really stressful enviPhotos by Kyra Motyka of what the dogs like to ronments, like shootings or Left: Eunice and Adeena are frequent visitors to Kaneland High School, where they do for fun. Eunice and bring joy to students. Top right: The dogs sit in the cafeteria for all three lunch peri- deaths, [Eunice] will come Adeena are best friends ods, and students can walk up at any time to see them. Botton right: The dogs associ- home and just go in the yard even outside of work. ate the sight of these backpacks with school, and this excites them for visiting students. and run and run,” Ray said. “Eunice likes to go “It just burns off the stress visit Adeena,” second caregiver and han- humans] because they’re trained to work that she’s absorbed from the people who dler of Eunice, Ray Pemoller, said. in an environment with lots of people. We are there.” “They’re best buddies. Best furry expose them to loud noises, big crowds, While running around the yard after buddies. BFBs,” Jan said. to go into retail businesses and restau- a long day always seems to resolve the The dogs began their 15-month rants, so nothing really surprises them.” dogs’ stress, their handlers are sure to training at just eight weeks old, with The purebred golden retrievers are keep a close eye on them during their Adeena having been trained at the now- just as happy to see us as we are to see work day. closed Dwight Women’s Prison. Eunice them. “We watch the dogs very carefuland Adeena are six and 12 years old, re“Adeena gets out of the car [at Kane- ly. Eunice and Adeena are what we call spectively. land], and her ears perk up. Her tail perks pros. They know what they’re doing,” Far“They would train the inmates, and up and she prances. They love it. They ran said. “It really depends on your dog. they’d then be certified to train dogs. just love it,” Farran said. Some dogs can get more nervous and Adeena was the first one that went to the “Eunice runs to the doors when she more stressed, but these two? You don’t prison to be trained. They wanted to see sees her bag, and she’s like, ‘Where are ever see them nervous or stressed.”
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