The Mosslands School in Wallasey has a new addition to the class register in the form of three-month-old Golden Retriever puppy, Morris… and he will be learning alongside pupils.
The school was the first in the country to team up with the national Guide Dogs charity as part of a new scheme to train the dogs before they are matched up with a blind or partially sighted owner.
Morris will spend nine months at the school with puppy walker volunteers and Faraday House Manager, Chris Kemp.
Chris told JMU Journalism: “Morris is doing marvellously. He has settled in really well and the boys are all getting used to him, he has been into his first assembly which he enjoyed.”
Pupils help to train Morris by ignoring him in the corridor which Chris says they find difficult as he is so cute.
She said: “We have a full staff briefing every morning which he attends, the head asked for opinions on what rooms in the school should look like and he barked!”
Morris is making his mark with the pupils and staff benefiting by learning all about the dogs, and being able to visit him in the school if they are feeling stressed or upset.
Chris said: “We get unwell and upset boys coming in in tears and Morris is very sympathetic, they always walk back out with a smile on their faces.”
The Mosslands School headteacher Adrian Whitely said: “We are delighted to welcome Morris to the school and look forward to a continued partnership with the Guide Dogs Association.”
The Guide Dogs Association was formed 80 years ago in Wallasey and Mosslands say Morris is a very good ambassador for the school.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lOpQriG9AQ&feature=plcp