Over the last two years, students have felt everything but normalcy while in school. From remote learning to social distancing, masks and keeping up with work, it can get overwhelming. To combat this, the BOCES school in Lowville is hoping visits from man’s best friend can help make things much easier.

Page Watson is a middle school student at the BOCES school in Lowville. He, like so many, has had his ups and downs over the last two years with the on again, off again nature of COVID, the lack of educational structure and the excess stress that's come with it.

“You try to keep up with the school work until you just, end up right back to where you started,” Watson said.

Schools, teachers especially, have been trying everything to find creative ways to ensure it all doesn’t become overwhelming. For Page, his teacher’s idea is working.

“Sometimes math is really hard, but you can turn it fun by turning certain things about it into a game,” Watson added.

However, when she can tell times are getting a bit too much, for any and all students, BOCES school teacher Harley Hancock breaks out the big stress reliever: Reese, Harley’s Bernese Mountain dog.

“I have a little, cute puppy dog to play with, sometimes maybe even snuggle with. She’s a friend to chill with,” Watson said while holding Reese.

Reese is a licensed therapy dog and Harley brings her in everyday to greet students off the bus and to spend time with students during the day.

“I definitely feel there is the overall benefit of student happiness as they are dealing with the hard things we have to deal with, even as adults. I think kids deal with hard things too, so our students having Reese to help them talk through those things, or even if its just to hang out with Reese and get their emotions out, I think that’s a huge benefit of having her here,” Hancock said.

A program showing so much promise, Harley has three of Reese’s pups in therapy training, with the goal of keeping this comfort around for years to come.

Hancock says even when things get back to normal, pandemic-wise, she knows these dogs will bring students the stress relief they need.