By Morgan Wirtanen, Software Support, Reach
Who doesn’t love puppies? Houseparents Erin Cecceto and Brayden Lachance still haven’t been able to answer that question. For them, having their dogs with them on campus has been essential in founding relationships with their students. Erin and Brayden are houseparents in Buckle House, one of the junior boys’ residences at King’s-Edgehill School in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada.
When they moved into the dorm this past summer, they brought their two year old lab, Millie, with them. She quickly settled into life on campus and loved that there was so much room to play! As first-time houseparents with a rambunctious puppy, Erin and Brayden were starting to get a bit nervous as August was ending. Would Millie get along with the students? Would she be anxious when 20 strangers moved into her house? What if the boys didn’t like dogs?
Thankfully, they soon learned they had nothing to worry about! When the boys moved in at the beginning of the school year, Millie was a huge hit. The students loved having a furry friend around, and Millie loved that there were so many people that wanted to play with her. Erin and Brayden noticed that having the dog around had a positive effect on the dorm. The kids seemed more engaged, and they all bonded over taking Millie for walks. Having their dog in the dorm went so well that later in the fall, a new member joined Buckle House: Harvey, a chocolate lab puppy.
For Erin and Brayden, having their dogs in the residence turned out to be an unexpected way to build meaningful relationships with their students. As chiropractors, they both work off-campus during the day. Since they weren’t always around, they worried it might be more difficult to connect with the students. Having Millie and Harvey dispelled that pretty quickly – the students loved having a pet in the house, and this helped facilitate genuine connection.
Erin and Brayden found it was an easy way to get students to open up. Those who were typically more shy and reserved would perk up when the dogs were around. By playing with a dog, it felt less awkward for the students to talk about how they were feeling homesick, or struggling in class. It made the dorm feel more like a home.
With Christmas break just around the corner, Erin and Brayden are reflecting on their first term as houseparents. While it was definitely chaotic at times and there were lots of challenges, they’ve had a great year so far. They’ve loved getting to know their students and helping them accomplish their goals. They believe Millie and Harvey have been a big part of that – having their dogs in the dorm has helped them create a positive environment where the students feel comfortable and at-home.
Got a campus dog that’s made a difference in your boarding community? Share their story and photo with us! 🐾 Upload your dog’s story here: https://reach.cloud/dogs-in-dorms/
About Morgan:
Morgan Wirtanen, Software Support at Reach, combines a Bachelor of Science from the University of New Brunswick with over four years of experience in the tech industry. As both a former boarding student and current dorm parent at King’s-Edgehill School, Morgan brings a unique, firsthand understanding of the challenges and rewards of boarding life. Her deep connection to the community, paired with her technical expertise, makes her an invaluable voice for student life management and support.
