Venti becomes beloved addition at West Holmes High School
West Holmes students Miley Snow, left, Manny Camacho and Logan Zollars and many other students at WHHS have enjoyed the company of Venti, the school’s therapy dog who has helped bring a sense of peace and relief to both staff and students this year.
At Starbucks, Venti means 20, but at West Holmes High School, Venti means just one, that one being the school’s pilot therapy dog that was introduced in late October of last year.
Venti is a 2-year-old Labrador that came to the high school through Pilot Dogs, a school facility dog training program in Columbus.
Venti was trained from birth to be a work dog, initially trained as a guide dog. However, when it became apparent Venti’s gifts didn’t lie in that realm, the organization moved Venti into the facility dog program.
Now Venti has become a favorite of both students and staff as he roams the office area and aids school counselors Alison Gardner and Dawne O’Donnell, student services provider Carrie Maltarich, and case manager Kati Tuitama as they provide guidance, direction and a listening ear to the students.
The Pilot Dogs facility program specially trains dogs that help provide comfort and support. The dogs undergo training to provide emotional support, encourage social interaction and assist in therapeutic activities under the guidance of professionals. Partnered with caregivers and educators, these dogs enhance environments, reducing stress and promoting well-being.
According to Gardner, Venti’s presence has already helped reduce stress and anxiety among students. Venti also has motivated individuals to engage more actively in therapy, helping them to become more open to share their lives and concerns with those trying to help them.
According to Gardner, Venti has become a critical part of the counseling team and a ray of sunshine during each school day.
“He’s just a calm, cool dog who loves people and has the ability to put people at ease,” Gardner said. “His presence and demeanor have been an incredible addition to our school. He brings this sense of trust and unconditional love that students immediately accept.”
Venti attends individual counseling sessions with students, does classroom visits where he serves as encouragement and motivation, and roams the office hallway and offices throughout each day.
“Not only is Venti a calming factor in students’ lives, but his presence also helps lower the barrier if a student isn’t ready to talk,” Gardner said. “Sometimes giving them five to 10 minutes with Venti puts them at ease and reduces the anxiety about talking about what is going on in their lives. He makes students more open and willing to talk. For students, they long for that sense of belonging and acceptance, and Venti provides that.”
She said Venti isn’t just for sessions. He is available for anyone who simply wants to catch their breath and relax for a moment, which also is a stress and anxiety reducer.
“It’s incredible. Just petting him a few times seems to bring people a release,” Gardner said.
Kevin Hofstetter, the school’s in-house therapist from AnaZao, is serving as the host family for Venti, so he spends a great deal of time with the dog, both at school and then at home each night.
“Venti is amazing,” Hofstetter said. “He is able to sense when a kid is struggling. He is incredibly well-trained and such an important addition to the school. Venti is so accepting and loving, and he doesn’t care if a student has a 4.0 or a 0.9 GPA, whether someone is a star athlete or just broke up with their girlfriend. That agape love just prevails and puts students at ease.”
Venti also has helped calm the nerves of students with test anxiety, being by a student while they are testing.
The students have benefited from Venti’s presence in many ways as he breaks down barriers and creates serenity.
“When I go back to talk to Alison or Kevin, I’ll sit there and pet on Venti, and it just lightens the mood,” student Miley Snow said. “There’s a peace that he brings, and you can kind of talk to him, and it seems like he is listening. It creates a more open space with him in the room.”
Pilot Dogs pours tens of thousands of dollars into each dog to prepare them for their roles, and in return they ask for a $10,000 donation.
Gardner said they are amid creating fundraisers, and there have already been several local organizations that have provided funding for both the donation and the ongoing expenses involved.
Mary Uhl of Wolf Creek Veterinary Services has offered to care for Venti. Other organizations like the Millersburg Eagles, Millersburg Lions Club, American Legion and more have made donations.
Anyone wishing to donate to the Venti program can stop by and see Gardner or Maltarich at school or send a check to West Holmes High School with “facility dog” in the memo line.
“People can also note whether they want to donate for daily care or for the Pilot Dogs donation,” Gardner said.
Gardner said the therapy dog program has worked so well at the high school that the district has a long-term goal of having a therapy dog in each of its school buildings in the future.
For now Venti has taken on a starring role as king of the school at WHHS.
To see more of Venti, he has his own page on Instagram at “Ventures with Venti.”