Clifton NJ schools gets fourth therapy dog gift in ‘Force’

CLIFTON — Christmas arrived a few weeks early for the city’s public schools and its support dogs program.

A gift to the district has made “the Force stronger” with the addition of a new therapy or emotional support dog named Solo, as in Hans Solo a main character in the Star Wars movies. Solo joins the district’s first therapy dog Chewie, short for Chewbacca, and recent newcomers Kobe and Teddy. The four goldendoodles help to ease stress and anxiety in students as well as teachers and staff in the district’s 18 schools from preschool through high school.

Solo was donated by Chewie.com, an internet pet supply company. He arrived in the district last week and may be deployed as a therapy dog by January or February following training.

After learning about Chewie, the first therapy dog who arrived in the district in September 2023, and the difference a therapy dog can make in a school district, Chewie.com, reached out to local school officials last spring and asked how they could help.

Mark Gengaro, assistant superintendent of schools and Chewie’s owner and handler, said the answer was a no-brainer — more therapy dogs.

Because Chewie had made a huge impact, the school board had already agreed to get two more dogs as the ideal situation puts a dog in each school.

Chewie.com and the assistant superintendent began discussions about a new dog, which went on from June to September, as Kobe and Teddy were undergoing training, he said.

“We were asked to write a letter to Chewie Claus,” Gengaro said, which is part of Chewie.com’s philanthropic arm.

“I love my job,” Chewie’s letter to the ersatz Santa reads, “but what I’d really love from Chewie Claus is another therapy dog so we can expand our program.”