Students at Dodge Elementary School hold up colored portraits of Yeti, the schools therapy dog, in the classroom.

Dodge Elementary students have been missing one of their favorite faculty members; Yeti the therapy dog has been absent as he heals from hip dysplasia complications.

Dan Steck, head custodian at Dodge Elementary, rescued Yeti from a puppy mill near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on March 19, 2016. Little did he know then that soon, Yeti would become a certified therapy dog, complete with his own office at Dodge.

Steck originally rescued Yeti in the hope that a sibling would calm down his other rambunctious malamute, Luna. While the adoption didnt quite have the desired effect, Steck soon realized that Yeti was special he was kind, gentle and always happy, a perfect candidate to become a therapy dog.

Since his certification through the SPCAs Paws for Love program, Yeti has worked at Dodge, a friendly face for struggling children or a non-judgmental listener for children practicing their reading. Steck said that teachers and students make requests to have Yeti in their classrooms left and right.

They adore Yeti, said Dodge principal Charlie Smilinich. Its cool to see how a dog can impact students. Its very unique. Hes been here for two years and has built a relationship with everyone. Hes a Dodger. The dog has his own office.

Yeti is what his owners call a tripaw, meaning that one of his legs was amputated due to a neglected infection he sustained under the care of his previous owners. As a result of walking on only three legs, the 4-year-old Alaskan malamute struggles with hip dysplasia.

Originally, Yeti was prescribed hydrotherapy, though he struggled to keep up with the treatment and would come home exhausted. Now, veterinarians are considering acupuncture, stem cell treatment or even a total hip replacement.

Hopefully, hell live a long life, but hes got some real challenges already, said Steck. At age 4, hes nowhere near as playful as he was, and he sleeps a lot. Eventually, he may even need a wheelchair.

Stecks family has dutifully supported Yeti through all of his medical trials, but the bills are racking up quickly. A wheelchair alone would cost them between $1,200 and $1,500.

To help with the costs, the Stecks have a GoFundMe page where they provide medical updates and receive encouraging messages from the elementary students.

To support their beloved therapy dog, Dodge students and the surrounding community have contributed $3,845 thus far, with a goal of $10,000. All of the money raised goes directly into an account at Amherst Small Animal Hospital.

To support the GoFundMe campaign, visit http://www.gofundme.com and search for Throw Kindness Around Like Confetti For Yeti.

To learn more about Yeti and his work at Dodge, search for Yeti Steck on Facebook.

Read the rest here:
Dodge Elementary rallies around beloved therapy dog - Amherst Bee