First Lady Justice Welcomes Chester to Preston High School, State’s 41st Therapy Dog Through Friends With Paws Program

KINGWOOD, WV – First Lady Cathy Justice visited Preston High School on Oct 30th, for an assembly to celebrate the arrival of the state’s newest therapy dog through the Friends With Paws program.

The dog introduced at Oct 30th’s event is a male Labrador Retriever named Chester. As of Oct 30th, a total of 41 Friends With Paws therapy dogs have been placed throughout the state.

List of FWP therapy dogs placed in West Virginia schools

"I am thrilled to welcome Chester to Preston High School as part of the Friends With Paws program," First Lady Justice said. "Seeing him already at ease, engaging so beautifully with students and staff, is truly heartwarming. His presence here is a wonderful addition to this community, and I look forward to hearing about the positive impact he will bring to Preston County."

"Preston County Schools and Preston High School are extremely excited to become a part of the Friends With Paws therapy dog program," Superintendent of Preston County Schools Bradley Martin said. "We are so hopeful that our new dog Chester will provide benefits to the students of Preston High School and specifically help our students lessen anxiety and be more comfortable attending school each day. Preston County Schools is extremely appreciative of the support provided by First Lady Justice's office and the Communities In Schools program to provide this great service for our students."

The Friends With Paws program places certified therapy dogs in several schools across the state, providing companionship and comfort for students in need of a boost.

Therapy dogs are specially trained to provide comfort and support to people in various tense environments. They can help people feel at ease, improve their mood, relieve anxiety, and remove social barriers. Friends With Paws therapy dogs are highly trained and certified to show their ability to work in stressful environments, ignore distractions, and provide therapy to people with diverse backgrounds and circumstances.

“This has been a dream come true,” Angie Zofchak, Director of Attendance and Student Support for Preston County Schools, said. “I am so excited for Preston High students to have Sir Chester as a positive support. I would like to give a huge shoutout to Chris, the general manager from Tractor Supply in Kingwood, for supporting Chester, PHS, and the Friends With Paws Program! I would also like to thank our Board of Education members and student board members who are in support of the program and see the benefit that Sir Chester can provide to our students, socially and emotionally.”

Following Oct 30th’s assembly, students and staff had the chance to greet Chester.

“We are so excited to welcome Sir Chester to Preston High School,” Beth Bishop, an Assistant Principal at Preston High School, said. “I believe that he will be a valuable part of our team, providing positive support for our students and bolstering our school spirit.”

The Friends With Paws program is a partnership between the Governor’s Office, West Virginia Communities In Schools (CIS) Nonprofit, and the West Virginia Department of Education. Therapy dogs are placed in schools within CIS counties where students are disproportionately affected by poverty, substance misuse, or other at-risk situations, and are in the greatest need of a support animal. The dogs serve as a healthy and friendly outlet for these students to address trauma and other social-emotional issues.

More information about Friends With Paws can be found in Communities In Schools: Friends With Paws, a documentary produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Click HERE to view the documentary

A 2019 study published by the National Institute of Health found that a dog’s presence in the classroom promotes a positive mood and provides significant anti-stress effects on the body.

In addition, research shows that the simple act of petting animals releases an automatic relaxation response. Therapy animals lower anxiety and help people relax, provide comfort, reduce loneliness, and increase mental stimulation. They are also shown to lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health, reduce the number of medications some people need, help control breathing in those with anxiety, and diminish overall physical pain, among other profound benefits.