Calais School Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) dogs Sage, Cali and Oreo recently retired from their positions as AAI dogs at the school. To celebrate their retirement and to say “goodbye” to all their Calais School friends, Animal Handlers Susan Greenbaum, Michelle Kearsley and Casey Roerden held a virtual Zoom retirement celebration where Calais staff and students could say goodbye.

More than 17 students and six faculty/staff dropped by to see Sage, Cali and Oreo. Several students spoke about their affection for the dogs and how much they would miss them, according to Animal Handler Susan Greenbaum. The dogs typically retire at 10 years of age barring any health issues, Greenbaum said. Since handlers Kearsley and Roerden will not return to Calais next year, the dogs will retire from their work at The Calais School.

Students will enjoy the company of Greenbaum and her dogs Dunkin, Gideon and Orbit this summer as they will participate in the Calais Dog Club, which is part of the Calais School’s ESY program.