Pepper The Therapy Dog Comforts Students At Shaler High School

SHALER (KDKA) -- Shaler Area School District is welcoming a new addition to its counseling staff.

Pepper, a 4-year-old Labradoodle, began working this month at the high school as a therapy dog, the district said in a release.

The district said the dog spends most of her day in the office of LeeAnn Guido, a social worker.

Pepper is also available to students throughout the day and visits classrooms 2-3 times per week.

The school district said Pepper has provided comfort to a grieving student with her calming presence and gave a student who struggles with truancy an incentive to come to school.

"A presence that helps to soothe raw emotions and gives kids who are not as connected to school a reason to be here," Guido said in a release.