Walter is a therapy dog who has worked at Mesa Public Schools for the past 6 years. I adopted him specifically for the Paws and Peers program from the Pinal County Animal Shelter, where he had been for over a year. We trained together and were part of the first class of dogs to join this program.

Watch Walter on the news

Walter is a sensitive dog who can tell when students are feeling dysregulated. During class, he will sit with them or lay with them while I teach. Once, he yanked me over to a student who was waiting for the social worker to come to school, and he sat next to her and laid his head on her lap.

However, Walter developed 3 cancerous masses on his leg and chest that needed to be removed. Walter had surgery on the Friday after Thanksgiving and is currently doing well. He is recuperating and hopes to return to continue working in January.

Thousands of students at East Valley Academy (a credit recovery high school) consider their time spent with Walter as the best part of their day. He has always shared his gentle strength with them and made them feel better about the stress of everyday life.

I am asking for your support to cover Walter's medical care costs. Walter gives so much to the students at our school, he and I are hopeful that he will continue to recover from his surgery and can return to work in January.