The Farmingdale community was reeling after a bus crash in Upstate New York injured dozens of students and killed the high school’s long-time band director, Gina Pellettiere, in September 2023.
District administration was looking for ways to support the school community when Dean of Students Fred Falcones suggested bringing in service dogs from thenonprofitCanine Companionsfor the hurting student body, and Superintendent Paul Defendini signed off on the decision.
“And I’m so glad I did,” Defendini said.
That decision eventually led to Defendini becoming a volunteer puppy raiser and advocate for service dogs in schools, and on June 14 at Leonard’s Palazzo in Great Neck, Canine Companions will honor Defendini at the organization’s largest fundraiser in the region — Sit. Stay. Sparkle! Northeast.
After the crash, the district stationed dogs all across the high school. There were support dogs in the commons, the library, and Pellettiere’s former band room.
“There were pockets of students that we were trying to get to open up,” Defendini said. “In some ways [the dogs] just provided a comforting environment for some of our students who were struggling.”
Defendini said that after Canine Companions supported the school community, he asked them how he could pay it forward to the non-profit. They suggested he become a volunteer puppy raiser. Defendini agreed, and soon enough, he was training Daler, a puppy who would go on to become a favorite of the Farmingdale school district.
Executive director Rudy J. Breedy calls Canine Companions a “full-service” organization.
“Not only do we breed the dogs, but we also train the dogs, and then we provide them to the individuals, whether they are veterans or children and adults with disabilities, free of charge, to help them achieve greater independence,” Breedy said.
Defendini stepped up as a volunteer to help with that crucial training period for Daler’s first 18 months and brought her to school every day before she was matched with someone.
Source: LI Press
