Parkland students to get therapy dog

The dog, a 3-month-old female Bernese mountain dog–poodle mix, will reportedly offer help for students who need emotional support. 

It’s happening this week. Ray and I get a girl…River, our MSD therapy puppy from Utah Bernedoodles pls Rt – share now and join us@PrincipalMSD @MSDlibrarymedia @MSD_MsKenny @msdclassof2021 @msdclassof2020 @msdclassof2019 @DouglasDrama @MSDculinary pic.twitter.com/Dsg7Kxb01U

— Diana Haneski (@dhaneski) July 17, 2018

The AP notes that the dog, known as River, was adopted by Ray and Diana Haneski.

{mosads}Diana is a library media specialist at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., and helped shelter 50 students during the February attack at the school. 

“It’s magical,” Diana told a local NBC affiliate when talking about meeting the dog. 

“River’s gonna help in the future with a lot of struggles and trouble, and I’m trying to get myself ready to go back, so this is definitely going to help me,” she said.

Many students from the high school have led a nationwide movement to demand action on gun laws in the months since the shooting. Many of the efforts have targeted the National Rifle Association and politicians who accept campaign donations from the organization.