Most people in the work force have a uniform or a type of clothing they wear, indicating it’s time for work. For Vegas, Iola’s therapy dog, it’s when his harness goes on.
“When he puts it on he knows he is working,” said Vegas’ owner and trainer, Iola Middle School counselor Stacey Crusinbery. “When it comes off he knows he can run around and be a dog.”
Vegas has two offices. His primary office is in the Iola Middle School, the other at Jefferson Elementary where he goes and spends one day a week with his other owner, Principal Brad Crusinbery, Stacey’s husband.
Stacey got Vegas, a lab and golden retriever mix, in 2006 after hearing about therapy dogs at a conference. Vegas is seven and a half years old.
After some research she presented the idea to the board and was approved for getting and being trained on how to keep a therapy dog.
Therapy dogs are kind, gentle and calm dogs that provide enjoyable contact with humans. Studies have shown that interactions with therapy dogs can increase oxytocin (bonding) and dopamine (happiness), while lowering cortisol (stress).
She went to a training facility in Concordia, where Stacey was given a week of training Vegas and how to use the harness.
“They match you up with a dog based on where the dog would live and where it would work,” Stacey said.
Vegas was originally trained through a prison program where an inmate works to train the dog while serving their time.
He was trained to be a calm dog. Vegas can sense if a student is upset and is never aggressive no matter the situation.
Stacey said the biggest benefit she has seen from Vegas has been the comfortability he creates for students who usually wouldn’t visit with the school counselor.
“If a student is upset or crying, Vegas can sense it and will go and stand by them or put his head on their lap. It really is amazing.” Stacey said.
Vegas often works with the intellectually disabled students because he acts as a chance for the students to go and take him on daily walks.
“He is accepting of people, no matter what they smell like or how much money they have,” Stacey said.
Each day Stacey goes through basic commands with him.
She has taught him the command “down and under,” where Vegas will get under a table to stay out of the way at places like restaurants, “stay and wait,” for when Stacey needs to walk away for a minute, and “leave it,” which Stacey said comes in handy when they go into the lunch room and the kids try to sneak him food.
The students, faculty and staff have fallen in love with Vegas, Stacey said.
“He goes to Jefferson once a week and we are in November now but people will still come in and ask where he is,” Stacey said. “Sometimes people will come by just to talk to Vegas and not me. It’s really funny actually.”
His co-workers are not the only ones who have fallen for Vegas. He has surpassed his position as therapy dog in the Crusinbery household and has become part of the family.
“When my daughter was an infant and she would cry Vegas would go lay in her room,” Stacey said. “He became attached really quickly.”
Time wasn’t a factor for Vegas. Stacey got him in June of 2006 and her daughter, Kaysin, was born in August. In less than two months Vegas was already part of the family.
“I have had dogs in the past and by far Vegas is the best I have ever had,” Stacey said.
Therapy dog, more than a pet
