EVERGREEN, Colo. — Two Labradors have become the most popular staff members at a Colorado high school still healing from a shooting, the Associated Press reported.
Norene and Polenta joined Evergreen High School, southwest of Denver, in March and August. They come from Canine Companions, a California nonprofit that provides trauma support dogs free of charge. The AP reported they are the first of its dogs matched with a school after a campus shooting.
In September 2025, a 16-year-old student opened fire at the school during lunch, wounding two classmates before shooting himself. He later died.
“Every single time I see one, I always have a smile on my face,” junior Fisher Helbraun said.
Principal Skyler Artes trained as a handler after seeing how the nonprofit’s dogs helped students and staff after the shooting. She handles Norene, and lead counselor Amy Wells handles Polenta.
“The fact that they are calm, that they’re generally peaceful and attentive makes them good at providing that ongoing, consistent, stable source of support,” Artes said.
The dogs were even crowned homecoming prince and princess and paraded across the football field in capes and crowns.
Sources: KTAR News/AP. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
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