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Wallace Elementary introduces facility dog Rami to support students' social-emotional needs
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Summary
Wallace Elementary and United Disability Services introduced Rami, a facility dog placed to help students with transitions and emotional regulation. The district said UDS retains ownership, the district covers $5,000 of acquisition costs, handlers will be evaluated, and protocols address allergies and opt-outs.
Jonathan, the main handler and school staff member who introduced Rami, told the West York Area School District board that “the primary goal of a facility dog is ultimately to reduce any mental health concerns.” Rami, a yellow Labrador born in 2024, spent months in UDS training and intermediate homes before arriving at Wallace Elementary. Jonathan said Rami “knows over 80 commands” and already helped a student with a difficult transition during his first days on site.
The district described the ownership and oversight arrangement: United Disability Services (UDS) retains ownership of Rami during his working life and conducts a 30-day evaluation and an annual review; the handler and the district participate in retirement decisions. Jonathan said UDS requires a district policy and an administrative regulation; Wallace adopted an AR and a teacher guide, and handlers must file monthly reports to UDS in the first year and annual reports thereafter.
On funding, the handler said the district’s share of the acquisition cost is $5,000 and that donors covered the remainder. “We are responsible for $5,000, to obtain a facility dog,” he said; the district reported it has set up an account and intends to pay that amount after passing the 30-day evaluation. Jonathan listed expected recurring costs (estimated around $1,800 annually, though the presenter said he did not expect it to reach that level) and said many startup items were donated locally, including support from West York PTO and community donors.
Operational details presented to the board included daily care and scheduling, a QR-code system for room-level allergy or opt-out lists, a shared Google calendar for teacher requests, assigned primary and secondary handlers, vet and grooming arrangements (primary vet: Shiloh Veterinary Hospital; groomer: Wet Your Whiskers, Dover), and requirements for daily logs and weight/health maintenance. The presenter said three students have formally opted out; the protocol is to relocate those students to a separate classroom when Rami is present.
Jonathan demonstrated Rami’s commands for the board and answered questions about overnight stays and other handlers: he said off-site overnight stays with other handlers are allowed if the handlers are UDS-trained and approved, and that the team will expand secondary handler training in coming months. The handler also noted UDS liability coverage and a district rider on the district policy for additional protection.
The board did not take formal action on the presentation during the meeting; the handler said the program began with board approval in May 2022 and that the formal transfer/payment to UDS will happen after the 30-day evaluation and passing handler tests in early December.
