Meet Maizy: Ritenour Middle School’s Newest Support Therapist
Ritenour Middle School welcomed a very special new staff member on April 15, 2025. Maizy, the only four-legged staff member with a continuously wagging tail, has the uncanny ability to know exactly who needs her the most.
Maizy is a 5-year-old miniature Bernese-Doodle mix and is Ritenour’s first certified touch-therapy dog. Twice a week, she can be found walking the halls with her handler, RMS school counselor Kim Sagakhaneh, or greeting students in the counseling office.
Calm, gentle and always up for a snuggle, Maizy already has won the hearts of students, staff and parents.
“She just knows who needs her,” Sagakhaneh said as they walk the halls during morning arrival, during passing periods or afternoon dismissal. “She can find the ones who really need her.”
Maizy’s path to RMS started more than a year ago when Sagakhaneh and Principal Angela Chatman began talking about how a therapy dog might help students with social-emotional support.
Thereafter, Sagakhaneh and Maizy enrolled in Duo Dog’s touch therapy certification program. During an 18-week training program, including an intensive six weeks of two-hour sessions, Maizy was trained to stay calm in high-stress situations, connect with people and follow advanced commands.
Maizy passed every test, including the final Canine Good Citizen exam, without the use of treats as an incentive. Sagakhaneh also passed a rigorous exam.
Now, Maizy spends most of her school days sitting in on individual and group counseling sessions and is adept at breaking down emotional barriers. On her very first day of work at RMS, Maizy already made huge headways with students.
“The pressure is off the students because they are paying attention to her,” said Sagakhaneh. “It’s like they’re almost talking to her instead of me.”
Students acknowledge what a huge difference it is to have some time with Maizy when they are having a tough day.
“She’s so soft and gentle,” said Steven, an RMS seventh-grader. “She’s very therapeutic and helps calm me down.”
Ava, an RMS eighth-grader, agrees. “When I’m feeling bad, she knows and makes me feel better. I can really focus better after being with her.”
In addition to spending time in the counseling office and walking the halls, Maizy makes classroom visits to bring love and smiles to students. But students aren’t the only ones benefiting from her -- staff often stop by for what Sagakhaneh calls “a quick Maizy fix.” And at the Spring Fling, parents got to meet the new school rockstar, too.
Although Maizy keeps up her enthusiasm and energy at school, Sagakhaneh said that when they arrive home at the end of a full school day, her four-footed colleague is ready for a nap. “She’s completely exhausted when we get home!”
In addition to working as a team at RMS, Maizy and Sagakhaneh are involved in volunteer activities and community events as part of the Duo Dog program. Sagakhaneh said they have already participated in a walk to support Cystic Fibrosis and plan to volunteer monthly at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Hospital.
