Birdie the Dog Made School Year Brighter for SISD Students

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Unlike in the past when many thought of the topic of mental health as a social stigma, now one duo in particular, counselor Heather Pavlu and emotional support animal Birdie, are making sure mental health isn’t seen as a stigma for the junior high and high school students at Schulenburg ISD.

Birdie, who is a one-anda- half-year-old yellow lab, is Pavlu’s personal dog she has had since she was 10 weeks old. So why the name Birdie? “I got her from a teacher in Smithville and one of my favorite movies is Hope Floats, so we named her Birdie after Birdie Pruitt from the movie,” said Pavlu.

Pavlu, a native of Weimar and who has been with Schulenburg ISD for six years now says a therapy dog was always what she had in mind for Birdie, “When I was at Lamar getting my master’s degree in counseling, there was a counselor who had her therapy dog there and did a presentation with him. It was then that I set a goal for myself, to one day have a therapy dog with me. The stories that she shared gave me chills and sent tears down my face all at the same time and I knew I wanted to witness the positive impact that a dog can share with kids,” said Pavlu.

Birdie now is certified through the AKC Kennel Club with a Canine Good Citizen certification. She has also gone through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs certification.

Birdie’s job at Schulenburg’s secondary campus is to provide students with companionship and support to help reduce their symptoms of any mental or emotional disabilities they are suffering from. “She wants them to feel loved and supported,” said Pavlu.

Before Birdie’s first day on the job, Schulenburg ISD parents were notified of her being on campus. “I have not had any negative feedback. I sent a letter home to the parents and gave them the option for their child not to see Birdie and I only had one sent back,” said Pavlu. “The only negative feedback I get is when I don’t bring her with me to school!”

And speaking of Birdie’s schedule, Pavlu said, “Her schedule is my schedule. She goes where I do and she stays with the high school science teacher while I go to lunch duty. I usually bring her to school three days a week, and the days are different every week. She is also just at the secondary campus now, but I’m hoping to work her into the elementary sometime next year.”

And in just the three months Birdie was introduced to the students, Pavlu says she has already seen a change in them. “I have noticed a change in some of my students. They come into my office with a sense of peace when they see Birdie in my office. The students absolutely love her. They will sit on the floor, pet, walk, and play fetch with her,” said Pavlu who also knows Birdie loves it too. “Birdie is very joyful, patient, and loves to get attention and belly rubs.”

Another way Birdie shows that being different is okay is that she was born with just three legs. “I didn’t even think twice about not getting her because she was just with three legs. I think it is good for kids to see that even dogs can be different and loved,” said Pavlu.

So as this school year is coming to an end what are Birdie’s summer break plans? “Her summer plans are to relax,” said Pavlu. “I do plan to keep working with her at home, as far as her commands go, because I don’t want her to lose what she learned at school.”

So as Birdie Pruitt says “Beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but it’s the middle that counts the most. Try to remember that when you find yourself at a new beginning. Just give hope a chance to float up.”

And I think that is exactly what Birdie is for these students… hope.