Meet the cuddly Golden Retriever comfort dogs at Mercer Island High School

As final preparations are underway at Mercer Island High School for the start of a new school year, we're meeting two furry employees who are excited to get back to work, giving comfort and kisses.

Finley, a 4-year-old Golden Retriever, and his sidekick, 2-year-old Guinness (also known as Little G.), are a cuddly, calming presence to both students and staff.

The dynamic duo are the personal pets of special education teacher Andrea Confalone, who got the idea of bringing in therapy dogs back in 2017.

"I saw this heightened level of anxiety with kids," she said. "And one of my students at the time asked if he could bring his dog, and we got some special permission for him to bring his dog. I saw how that dog brought out some of the kids in the classroom."

Since Confalone had a Golden Retriever at home, she wrote to the district and said she'd like to start a therapy dog program and asked if they'd be willing to support it.

"It was a resounding yes," she said. "They were even willing to allow him, as a puppy, be a part of the classroom."

Finley trained at the school and had some additional outside training. He was certified when he was one year old.

"He has been kind of a constant there every single day for the last six years," said Confalone.

Then along came Guinness, Finley’s furry nephew.

"The two of them just kind of became a team," said Confalone.

The dogs hang out in Confalone's classroom.

"Kids are welcome any time, so they can come in and visit with the dogs, and we do some work out in the halls and in the common area at other times," she said. "But for the most part, my classroom is like an open door for kids to come in when they need some additional support and staff as well."

Confalone said sometimes kids will come in multiple times during the day.

"Even if it's just for, like, 10 seconds, 15 seconds, to give the dog a pet and then move on," she said. "It's so obvious that they help us, you know, and they help me, too. I mean, I have to say that my work life has improved tremendously because of the because of the animals."

Finley and Little G even help out during test time.

"Teachers will make requests to say, 'Hey, you know, we're having a big exam. Can you bring the dogs in?' And for five minutes or three minutes, whatever, we just walk down, and we visit, and the kids that want to engage do, and then we move on," said Confalone.

Confalone said counselors have brought in kids who are in crisis just to sit with the dogs.

"No questions asked, no judgment," she said. "My students are kind of used to people coming in and out of our room, and that's kind of nice, too, that it feels like it's an open door."

Confalone said between periods, the dogs will sit at the door and greet people as they're walking by.

"They have a sign that says 'The Therapist Is In' and 'My Therapist Has Four Legs,' and 'When I needed a hand, you gave me a paw,' you know, those kinds of things," she said.

The dogs love their 'job' and are true paw-fessionals.

"In the classroom, people will walk in and out (the dogs) don't bark," said Confalone. "Just as soon as somebody comes in, they're up because they think they're being visited. It's like, oh, we have a new person who may want some attention."

Since the dogs are beloved staff members, they have their school picture taken each fall.

"They get a staff photo, and they are in the district office," said Confalone. "So, when you walk in the district office behind the secretary, their photos are there."

Confalone said many school districts are afraid to bring in therapy dogs.

"I just think that there's been nothing like it," she said. "It's just been positive. I'm just so glad that our superintendent was truly in favor of this kind of a program."

Follow Finley and Little G. on Instagram here.

Learn more about Mercer Island High School here.