Two Therapy Dogs Are Helping a Colorado High School Community Recover After a Shooting—The Comfort Students Found in Norene and Polenta Goes Beyond an Ordinary School Program

They don’t carry backpacks, attend classes or worry about homework.

Instead, Norene and Polenta, two golden Labrador retrievers, wait for students who want a moment of comfort before beginning the school day.

Some students stop to pet them. Others smile when they see the dogs in the hallway. A few seek them out when they’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed.

What might look like an ordinary school therapy-dog program carries a much deeper meaning at Evergreen.

On September 10, 2025, a shooting at the high school wounded two students and left the 16-year-old student responsible for the attack dead. The violence shook the community and changed the way many students and staff experienced a place that had once felt familiar and safe.

A year later, the school is still working through the emotional aftermath.

And two dogs have become an important part of that process.

According to an October 10 Associated Press report, Norene and Polenta now greet students, visit classrooms and provide a calming presence throughout the school day.

Their presence isn’t intended to erase what happened or replace professional counseling.

Instead, the dogs offer something that can be especially meaningful after a frightening experience: a familiar, welcoming presence that asks very little of the people who approach them.

A School Shooting Changed the Community’s Sense of Safety

Evergreen High School sits southwest of Denver in a mountain community where the school plays an important role in local life.

On September 10, 2025, that sense of normalcy was interrupted when a 16-year-old student opened fire during the school day, wounding two classmates before shooting himself. The shooter later died.

The violence left students, families and staff confronting fear, grief and uncertainty.

Principal Skyler Artes was among those who remained at the school during the emergency. She sheltered with students and staff and stayed until everyone had left the building.

In the days afterward, the school faced a challenge that extends beyond repairing physical damage or resuming classes.

Students needed to return to a place associated with a traumatic event.

Teachers needed to continue educating young people while processing their own experiences.

Families needed reassurance that their children would receive support as the community tried to move forward.

Those needs don’t disappear simply because a school reopens.

The anniversary of a traumatic event, an unexpected sound or returning to a particular location can bring back difficult memories for some people.

That is part of why Evergreen’s response has included ongoing emotional support rather than treating recovery as something that should happen on a fixed schedule.

The Dogs First Arrived When Students Were Still Processing the Shooting

The relationship between Evergreen High School and the nonprofit Canine Companions began in the aftermath of the shooting.

Canine Companions is a national organization that trains and provides assistance dogs for people and organizations with specific needs.

Following the shooting, volunteer handlers brought trained dogs to support students, families and school staff.

Among those dogs was Peppi, accompanied by volunteer handler Ryan, whose experience was described in a September 9 report by CBS Colorado.

Ryan recalled how quiet and shaken the school community seemed.

Students and staff were embracing one another, and many appeared overwhelmed by what had happened.

The dogs offered an opportunity for connection without requiring people to explain their feelings.

Someone could hold a leash, pet a dog or walk beside an animal without being expected to discuss the shooting.

For students struggling to find words, that kind of interaction could provide a welcome pause.

The support was initially provided through visits from volunteer teams.

But school leaders began noticing how students responded.

Eventually, they decided that having trained dogs permanently connected to the school could provide a more consistent source of comfort.

One Student’s Walk Through the School Revealed How Much the Dogs Mattered

One of the most moving moments reported by CBS Colorado involved a student who returned to the building after the shooting to retrieve her backpack.

The student walked through the school while holding Peppi’s leash.

As they moved through the building, she repeatedly reassured the dog that everything was all right.

The volunteer handler later reflected that the student seemed to be offering reassurance to herself as much as to the animal.

The encounter illustrates why the dogs’ presence could be meaningful in a school recovering from violence.

The student didn’t have to sit down for a formal conversation or explain what she was feeling.

She could focus on walking with the dog.

The animal provided a simple point of connection during an experience that was emotionally difficult.

That doesn’t establish that the interaction treated trauma or resolved the student’s distress.

But it helps explain why school leaders saw value in making trained dogs part of the daily environment.

Sometimes support begins with helping someone feel comfortable enough to take the next step.

Norene and Polenta Became Permanent Members of the School Community

After seeing how students responded to visiting dogs, Principal Artes decided to train as a Canine Companions facility-dog handler.

The process required more than simply bringing a friendly pet to school.

According to Canine Companions, facility dogs receive extensive preparation, and their handlers participate in specialized training.

Artes completed the organization’s training process and was matched with Norene, a calm Labrador retriever.

Norene began accompanying her to school, becoming part of the daily routine.

Evergreen’s lead counselor, Amy Wells, also completed the training process and was matched with Polenta, another Labrador with a more energetic personality.

Polenta joined the school in August 2026.

The two dogs are assigned to staff members who understand their training and responsibilities.

That distinction matters because the animals are not simply visiting pets.

They are trained facility dogs working alongside school professionals in an environment where students may need emotional support.

Canine Companions provides its dogs without charging recipients for the placement.

A Familiar Greeting Became Part of the Morning Routine

For many students, the dogs’ presence is most noticeable at the beginning of the day.

Norene and Polenta greet students near the entrance, creating an opportunity for a positive interaction before classes begin.

Junior Fisher Helbraun told the Associated Press that visiting the dogs had become one of the first things he did after getting off the bus.

He described how seeing them reliably improved his mood.

Senior Maddie Cornwell also spoke about the joy the dogs bring, explaining that their playful behavior and affection can make a difficult day feel better.

These moments may seem small compared with the scale of what the school experienced.

But their simplicity is part of what makes them meaningful.

A student doesn’t have to schedule an appointment to enjoy a brief interaction with the dogs.

Someone having a stressful morning can stop for a moment, pet one of the Labradors and continue toward class.

The dogs also spend time in hallways, classrooms and counseling spaces.

Their regular presence means students don’t have to wait for a special event or an occasional visit to see them.

Students Can Find Comfort Without Having to Explain Their Feelings

One of the challenges following a traumatic event is that not everyone wants to talk about what happened.

Some students may find counseling helpful.

Others may need more time before they feel ready to discuss their experiences.

Still others may be coping with emotions they have difficulty describing.

The dogs provide a different kind of interaction.

A student can approach Norene or Polenta without needing to answer questions about anxiety, grief or fear.

In an October 8 report on the school’s therapy dogs, Evergreen senior Quinn McEvers explained that students can receive comfort from the dogs without having to talk about the problems they’re facing.

That observation helps explain why the animals have become more than an occasional novelty.

Their presence creates an opportunity for students to experience a positive interaction on their own terms.

For someone who feels overwhelmed, a brief moment of calm may be valuable even if it doesn’t resolve the underlying problem.

And for students who aren’t experiencing significant distress, the dogs can simply make the school day more enjoyable.

The Difference Between a Therapy Dog and a Trained Facility Dog

The terms therapy dog, comfort dog and facility dog are sometimes used interchangeably in news coverage, but they can describe different roles.

A therapy dog generally participates in structured visits that provide comfort or support in settings such as schools, hospitals or nursing homes.

A facility dog is typically trained to work regularly with a designated professional in an organization such as a school, healthcare facility or rehabilitation center.

Norene and Polenta are trained facility dogs placed through Canine Companions.

Their handlers are members of the school staff.

This arrangement allows the animals to participate in the school’s regular routines while remaining under the supervision of trained adults.

Canine Companions begins preparing its dogs when they are young.

The training includes basic obedience, working calmly in public environments and learning specialized tasks appropriate to their placements.

The dogs are selected and matched with handlers based on their abilities and the needs of the organization.

That preparation is particularly important in a busy high school, where the animals may encounter crowded hallways, loud noises and students experiencing a wide range of emotions.

Animal-Assisted Support Has Benefits, but It Isn’t a Replacement for Counseling

The Evergreen story also raises a broader question about the role animals can play in emotional recovery.

Research into human-animal interaction suggests that contact with dogs may help some people experience temporary reductions in stress and anxiety.

Animal-assisted programs have been used in schools, hospitals, rehabilitation settings and other environments.

However, the evidence varies depending on the population, the program and the outcomes being measured.

Not every study finds the same benefits, and interactions with animals should not be described as a proven cure for trauma.

Students recovering from a school shooting may need access to licensed mental health professionals, trauma-informed counseling, family support and other services.

The dogs can complement those resources.

They cannot replace them.

That distinction is especially important because people respond differently to traumatic experiences.

Some may benefit from talking with a counselor.

Others may find comfort in friendships, family relationships or familiar routines.

Some may appreciate the presence of a dog, while others may be uncomfortable around animals.

A supportive school environment should recognize those differences rather than assuming one approach will work for everyone.

The Dogs Became Part of the School’s Everyday Life

As Norene and Polenta settled into their roles, their presence began extending beyond moments of emotional distress.

They accompanied staff members through the school.

They spent time in classrooms.

They greeted students in the morning.

Polenta also accompanied counselor Amy Wells, who coaches volleyball, to team practices.

The dogs became familiar faces—or, more accurately, familiar faces with wagging tails.

That transition from emergency support to everyday companionship is an important part of the story.

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the dogs were introduced because students and staff needed comfort.

Over time, their presence became associated with ordinary school activities.

Students could enjoy the animals without every interaction being connected to the tragedy.

The dogs were no longer only reminders that something terrible had happened.

They were also part of the community’s efforts to experience normal school life again.

Evergreen’s Homecoming Celebration Included an Unexpected Honor

By early October 2026, Norene and Polenta had become so popular that students and staff found a special way to recognize them.

The dogs were crowned the school’s first canine homecoming king and queen.

According to CBS Colorado’s October 3 report, the honor took place during the school’s homecoming celebrations.

The dogs had already become beloved members of the community, and the recognition reflected how much students appreciated their presence.

For a school that had experienced a devastating event just over a year earlier, the homecoming celebration represented something more than an amusing story about two dogs wearing crowns.

It showed students participating in a familiar school tradition and finding a reason to celebrate.

The honor also demonstrated that Norene and Polenta had become part of Evergreen’s identity.

They weren’t temporary visitors brought in for a few days after a crisis.

They were members of the school community whom students wanted to recognize.

Students Are Finding Reasons to Smile Again

The dogs’ popularity is evident in the way students describe them.

Senior Jackson Thomas told local reporters that the animals helped him feel less anxious after the shooting.

Other students described feeling happier when they encountered the dogs during the school day.

Principal Artes has also spoken about how their presence can change the atmosphere in a hallway.

A tense conversation may pause when one of the dogs approaches.

Students who were focused on something upsetting may become distracted by the chance to pet an animal.

A difficult moment can give way to laughter.

These observations are personal experiences reported by members of the school community, not controlled measurements of the dogs’ clinical effectiveness.

But they are meaningful evidence of how the students and staff perceive the animals.

For a school recovering from violence, moments of ordinary happiness can carry special significance.

The dogs have become associated with those moments.

The School Is Still Recovering, Even as Positive Milestones Continue

One of the dangers in telling a hopeful story after a tragedy is making recovery appear simpler than it really is.

The presence of Norene and Polenta does not mean that everyone at Evergreen High School has fully recovered from the shooting.

Students and staff may continue experiencing grief, anxiety or difficult memories.

Some may need ongoing professional support.

Others may feel better for a time and then encounter reminders of the event that bring back distress.

Recovery is not necessarily a straight line.

And the fact that a community can celebrate a homecoming game or enjoy the company of two dogs doesn’t mean the pain of what happened has disappeared.

The significance of the program lies partly in its recognition that emotional support may still be needed long after the immediate emergency.

Evergreen’s decision to make the dogs a permanent part of school life reflects an ongoing commitment to that support.

What Other Schools Can Learn From Evergreen’s Experience

Evergreen’s experience may interest school leaders and parents in other communities.

But it doesn’t mean every school needs two facility dogs or that such programs will produce identical results everywhere.

A successful program requires planning.

Schools need to consider the training and suitability of the animals, the qualifications of handlers, student allergies, fears of dogs, sanitation, safety and the availability of other mental health resources.

Staff members also need to understand how the animals fit into the school’s broader support system.

The strongest lesson from Evergreen may be less about one particular program and more about the importance of consistent care.

Students recovering from a traumatic event may benefit from predictable routines, trusted adults, opportunities for connection and access to appropriate professional support.

For Evergreen, trained facility dogs became one way to strengthen that environment.

Other schools may find different approaches that meet their communities’ needs.

The common goal is to help students feel supported as they continue learning and growing.

A School’s Recovery Is About More Than Returning to Class

When a school reopens after a traumatic event, the return to ordinary routines can be an important milestone.

Classes resume.

Students see their friends.

Teachers return to lessons.

Sports and school activities continue.

But physical attendance doesn’t necessarily mean everyone feels safe or emotionally ready.

A community may need time to rebuild confidence and restore a sense of connection.

Norene and Polenta have become part of that process at Evergreen High School.

They provide familiar greetings, opportunities for quiet interaction and moments of happiness in a place where students have experienced profound fear and sadness.

Their role is not to make students forget the shooting.

It is to offer comfort while the school continues moving forward.

Sometimes Support Arrives on Four Paws

The story of Norene and Polenta is compelling because their work is so simple.

They greet students.

They sit beside people.

They allow themselves to be petted.

They accompany trusted adults through the school.

They bring moments of playfulness into an environment that has experienced tremendous sorrow.

None of those actions can undo what happened on September 10, 2025.

But the students’ responses suggest that the dogs have become a valued source of companionship and reassurance.

Their homecoming crowns were a lighthearted recognition of something the community takes seriously: these animals have helped make difficult days feel a little easier.

And perhaps that is why the story resonates beyond Evergreen.

After a traumatic event, recovery often involves many forms of support, from professional counseling and family relationships to the return of familiar routines.

At this Colorado high school, two trained Labradors have become part of that larger effort.

They can’t change the past.

But every morning, when students arrive and stop to greet Norene and Polenta, the dogs help create another moment of comfort in the present.

And for a school still healing, those moments matter.

Original reporting and additional sources