Lambert Pack

It all started in 2019 when Duck was donated to Mrs. Nicoletti's Exceptional Student class. Duck came from a great line of duck hunting dogs. There was just one problem...Duck didn't fetch. He preferred to hang back with the handlers and thus failed duck school. Scot Rucker donated him to Mrs. Nicoletti and the rest is history! We now have a total of eight therapy dogs in our Lambert Pack who serve Lambert High School in various ways. Each has been through extensive training and has passed the AKC Good Citizen Test and continues to work on their skills in other classes like agility, trick, dock diving, and more! Oh, and in case you are wondering, Duck LOVES to fetch now. He just needed a little more time and support.

Our therapy dog program not only supports students (and staff) experiencing stress and other emotional concerns, but they are also providing student confidence (for those working to handle the dogs), communication skills, opportunities for vocational skill development, gross motor coordination, and most often - SMILES!

Duck

Maggie

Charlie

Clover

The Lambert Therapy Dog Program began in January 2020 with the arrival of Duck, a black Labrador Retriever generously donated by local dog trainer Scot Rucker, who also serves as President of the Forsyth County Humane Society. Duck's first assignment was supporting students in one of our specialized instruction classrooms.

Just a few months later, in April 2020, Scot donated Clover, an English Cream Retriever, to provide support in a second specialized instruction classroom.

Around the same time, one of our staff members completed therapy dog certification with her personal dog, Charlie, a Charcoal Labrador Retriever. During the spring of 2020, another staff member and her Golden Retriever, Lucy, also began training to become a certified therapy dog team.

In September 2020, Maggie, a Labradoodle, was donated to then-Assistant Principal Dr. Johnessee (now Principal of Haw Creek Elementary). Maggie completed her therapy dog certification in October 2020 and quickly became a beloved member of the program.

In Spring 2021, Gunner, Charlie's Fox Red Labrador Retriever brother, joined the Lambert family after completing his therapy dog training and began making regular visits to campus.

Today, our therapy dog program has grown far beyond those first few pups, with many additional therapy dogs joining the Lambert family and making a positive impact on students and staff every day.

We're proud of how our pack has grown and look forward to welcoming even more four-legged friends as the Lambert Therapy Dog Program continues to thrive.