By Isabel Ely

Badin is welcoming a new staff member and this one has paws. Rudy is a therapy dog that has recently been making her way to fame at our school. She lives with Mrs. Bucheit and comes to school everyday to help all of us. Rudy is a trained dog that was given to Badin for a good cause.

The Charlotte Helen Bacon Foundation was made to honor a joyful, loving six year old that died in the Sandy Hook shooting. This foundation was created to honor Charlotte’s love and passion for dogs, to honor her dream of becoming a veterinarian and to honor families who went through the same experience of a loss of a child. This foundation is where Rudy came from.

Badin will now have the delight of honoring Charlotte every single day by giving Rudy a home and a school, where she is loved very much. Not only do we want to love and support Rudy, but she wants the same. Therapy dogs are proven to reduce stress and who wouldn’t be happy seeing a puppy down the hallway at school.

By Mickayla Kowalski

Rudy will have an important job to do just like the rest of the staff. She is going to be there for any student that just needs comforted. She will be there to brighten anyone's day that needs it.

Teachers will also be able to request Rudy for a classroom visit. This means Rudy will just walk around the class and everybody gets to pet her and see her. This will be very helpful during stressful times during the school year. Rudy will get to help students relieve stress and boost their moods.

Many people think that since a dog is very expensive, students will have to “pay” to keep Rudy here at our school. Fortunately for everybody, Rudy won’t cost a thing. A multitude of organizations and businesses have donated money and resources to help Rudy. All of her veterinary, grooming, and food expenses are being provided for through many different people.

Rudy’s extensive training was also paid for through an anonymous donor. Thankfully many people have stepped up to help Rudy become a part of the Ramily.