Barbara Lawlor, Nederland

When Mikaela Kugel tells Lilly it's time to go to school, Lilly jumps up and runs to the door, eager to get her jacket on and head to school to see her friends. She wags her tail in anticipation of the gleeful greeting that awaits her.

Lilly is a two-year-old golden retriever/pyrenees mix and her job at Nederland Middle Senior High School is to make a bunch of students happy, to bring her warm, furry body into the special education classroom where she is hugged and patted, kissed and given treats. What's not to like?

A member of the Kugel family since she was eight weeks old, Lilly has always been a cheerful, affectionate, gentle dog. NHS sophomore Mikaela was convinced that her beloved dog was destined to make people happy. She loved to socialize and all who came in contact with her reciprocated her open, friendly nature.

Mikaela went with her instincts and both she and Lilly worked on the basic skills necessary to become a therapy dog. "I took what I do when I train horses and brought those skills into the dog world," says Mikaela. Lilly soon met the requirements and was licensed through the American Service Dog Association.

When Mikaela began her sophomore year last fall she worked in the special education classroom, getting to know the special needs students.

"After seeing how amazing they were, how much fun it was to be with them, I decided I wanted to help them as much as I could. There was one student who loved dogs so I went to the school staff to see if I could get approval to bring Lilly to school. It all fell into place."

NMSHS principal Lynn Donnelly made sure none of the students were allergic to dogs and got permission from the parents. In October, Lilly made her first trip to the school and everyone was eager to pet her, to hug her and to be her friend. Mikaela said that Lilly paid attention to the students, that she totally focused on the kids. Only a squirrel could have distracted her.

Mikaela was determined to put Lilly's special training to the test. Neither the kids nor Lilly needed much prompting. They were immediately attracted to each other, a bond that began when the first dog asked a human for love.

It soon became apparent that Lilly and her kids were a team.

Since then, Lilly comes to the school twice a week, on Wednesdays and Fridays, and hangs out. One of her best friends is 11-year-old sixth grader Caedon Hartman, who has cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair. The two of them have developed a special relationship, including Lilly's customized skill of pulling Caedon in his wheel chair.

Last Wednesday, Lilly and Mikaela showed up at the school around 8:45 a.m. It takes a while for them to make it to the special ed classroom because the rest of the kids gather round, wanting to touch the now famous golden dog. Kind of like walking the red carpet before the academy awards.

Mikaela brought along her mom Laura and brother Wes, a NHS graduate, to see what their dog could do. The small parade rode the elevator to the second floor where they headed to Kristin Trump's room.

Lilly went through the door running and when a loud happy greeting reached her she scrambled over to say hi to Alex Eggleston, who reached for her. Lilly gently put her paws on Alex's chair and soon the two of them were all wrapped up in hug. Another student, Will Nixon, gets an award of Lilly time when he does well.

Lilly is perfect for the job and loves being the kids' special friend. Earlier this year, Mikaela devised a custom harness for Lilly, one they could hook up to Caedon's wheelchair and the dog and the boy now make the trip to the gym, where Lilly pulls Caedon round and round on the hardwood floor as he shrieks with delight. When the joyride is over, the two return to the classroom where the other students have their turn with Lilly.

Mikaela says she is working on getting Lilly into Children's Hospital and visiting with the chemo patients. She also is contacting the Nederland Elementary School and hopes to visit other schools in the district. Lilly is happy to go anywhere that Mikaela does.

Senior Brianna Tester says, "Lilly helps me when I am having a bad day. She will come and sit in my lap and just look at me. That makes me feel better."

Freshman Will Nixon says that Lilly is always beautiful, nice, loving, gentle, and playful, and he feels happy when she is around.

But her good work is not limited to the students. Teacher Kristin Trump says that Lilly cheers up everyone and makes them laugh. "She has really opened up this classroom. Other kids now come in to see her and that is a breakthrough that makes everyone feel good."

Lilly goes home for lunch and for a break from the kids. She is fed a diet of raw meat, which Mikaela says is healthier for dogs and makes them live longer. She also is bathed on a regular basis. After all, a celebrity has to be well-groomed.

Principal Donnelly says that once it was determined that allergies were not an issue, the whole idea was a win-win situation. "I am delighted that it is working out so well."

After Lilly's wheelchair-pulling trip in the gym, she is let loose in the classroom, free to roam around and receive hugs from her fans and occasionally sit on a lap. Life is good for her and her team and they are developing a network of good will and caring that brings the special ed program one step further into the heart of the school.