What a fun piece. “The Canines of Kents Hill: A convivial pack helps students and staff alike” in September/October issue of Bark chronicles the important role of dogs on campus.

We’ve all known dogs on campuses- the roles they play and their effects on students. In my experiences, the positive contributions of dogs were always a by-product- something we had that worked well but not something that we thought about or planned.

At Kents Hill School dogs play conspicuous and purposeful roles in Kents Hill educational process. Kents Hill is aware of canine contributions to a warm, family environment. They add warmth, intimacy, and parts of home to student lives. The pooches fill roles just as they do in a home or working on the farm.

Kents Hill’s Ann Richardson told Bark, “The bottom line for us is dogs in the dorm and around campus increase the feeling that this is a community and a home for students…They add a sense of normalcy for daily life….”

“Abby Kemp, a sophomore from South Africa, loves keeping close to her favorites. ‘When you have problems and stress,” she says, “the minute you see a dog, the joy and the laughter they bring takes all the stress away…’”

…Dialoguing with dogs is commonplace at Kents Hill. Sampson Hall dorm head Celene Boulet says that new students might be shy with humans upon moving in but ‘will always stop to pet and play with the dogs—they are the ultimate icebreakers.’”

Photo credit: Darwin Bell