Over the years, we’ve had a lot of new faculty members at Lightridge, but our newest member is perhaps the most remarkable.
Biscuit Stone is from Fredericksburg, VA and was adopted when she was 12 weeks old by history teacher Alia Stone. Biscuit is a golden retriever and is an emergency alert service dog.
“With service animals, they are able to identify when people are going to get sick or when they are going to have medical complications some time up to an hour before it happens,” said Stone.” It’s a lot more effective than trying to manage when you’ve already had symptoms. She is professionally trained to basically respond when I’m having an episode.”
Stone believes when it comes to medical issues and disabilities, service dogs are great solutions to making people’s lives easier.
Stone chose Biscuit because, even as a puppy, she was calm and confident.
“ I am really happy that I made the right choice in that respect,” Stone said.
After adoption, Biscuit spent more than half a year training.
“ I did not train Biscuit myself, I instead worked with a professional Service Dog training facility in Chantilly,” said Stone.
In the United States there is no certification of registry for service dogs as a way to make it easier for people with disabilities to adopt them. While Biscuit doesn’t have a certificate saying that she is a service dog, she demonstrates it at school with a calm and focused attitude.
At school, the first thing Biscuit does is slip on her vest, which designates her as a working service dog.
“This is her cue to be on duty and on her very best behavior,” said Stone.
Biscuit then spends most of the school day on a mat underneath a table in the classroom. When she’s not in her room she follows Stone around. No matter where she goes at school, Biscuit is at Stone’s side. During planning blocks she is free to roam and run the courtyard and play, which Stones calls “zoomies.”
“As soon as we set foot in our door at home, she takes off and finds one of the cats, Figaro, to play with. They have a really sweet relationship, ” said Stone. “When she’s at home, she gets to be a dog, really.”
While Biscuit may have a job she still is playful and gets lots of love.
“Even though we have a pretty solid day-to-day routine down, every day and every outing, even to places we have been a million times before, is different and presents its own unique challenges,” said Stone. “ I just try and view every day as a new opportunity to grow together as a team and to increase our bond.”
While Biscuit may be adorable, students and teachers have to remember that she has a job that needs complete focus. When she’s wearing her vest and is and is on duty, hands off!
