For the past four years, Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) has had a four-legged, unpaid staff member who has won over the hearts of students and staff alike. Maeve, the school’s therapy dog, has become a source of comfort, calm, and joy throughout the school day.
Maeve’s job as a licensed therapy dog is based in the Student Affairs Office (SAO), where students frequently visit her passing time or when meeting with counselors.
Matt Malowski, a school adjustment counselor and Maeve’s owner, explained that Maeve’s training to become a licensed therapy dog started very early. “I got her at 8 weeks old, and I would say somewhere around 10 to 11 weeks, we started introducing her to the school, and eventually building up to larger groups of people. She loved the socialization part,” Mr. Malowski said.
Jack Pachico, a business teacher and an administration support professional in the SAO, emphasized the dedication that went into Maeve’s training.
“Matt has done a ton of work with [Maeve] over the years to get her licensed as an actual therapy dog. He’s worked very hard to train her to be professional in a professional environment,” he said.
Mr. Pachico reflected on Maeve’s steady popularity among students. “[Maeve] definitely has a fan base. She has those students who come down to see her every period — it’s almost like clockwork. She’s very welcoming and she’s a friendly face for a lot of people coming into this space that we want to be so special, and helpful, and a place for kids to escape if they need to,” Pachico said.
Sophomore Cecilia Santos, who frequently visits Maeve, reflected on her favorite memory with her.
“I was in [Mr. Malowski’s room] and I was kind of crying, and Maeve just went up to me and she put her head on my lap and looked at me, and I just started laughing at her. She’s really empathetic,” Cecilia said. “I’m teaching her a little Portuguese, like tricks in Portuguese, and that kind of stuff. And she actually does [the tricks] sometimes. So she’s a bilingual dog now.”
Sophomore Bristol Roten shares Cecilia’s appreciation for Maeve, and reflected on Maeve’s empathy and professionalism.
“I think she’s a very emotionally understanding dog. She knows when something is wrong. One day I was having a really hard time and I needed to sit down, and I sat on her bed and she laid down on my lap. She’s usually very jumpy and excited, but that day I could understand she was just trying to be calm with me,” said Bristol.
Junior Wyatt Tilton, who is part of the Navigator Program and one of Maeve’s regular visitors, reflected on her role. “Her job is to help people around the school through a tough time,” said Wyatt.
Mr. Malowski recalled a moment that showed how Maeve quietly transforms the counseling space for students. “I had a student and she never had done counseling before, and didn’t really think it was that beneficial. And she came into the office and once she saw Maeve, she was like, ‘Oh my God, can I pet your dog?’ As she was petting Maeve she was telling me all these things about herself, her life, and her family. And at the end, I was like, ‘I don’t want to ruin this, but do you realize that for the past 40 minutes that you were just hanging out with us, you just did a therapy session?” he said.
Mr. Malowski appreciates Maeve’s ability to bring out the best in students, even if for a brief moment. “You look at teenagers walking through the hallways, and they look so serious all the time and sometimes stressed or whatever, but when they see Maeve they turn into kids,” he said. “I just love that Maeve allows for, even if it’s a brief moment, a person to be who they are or to just be vulnerable for a second.”
This is terrific!