Students from Old Colony Regional Voc-Tech pose with Sunny, Acushnet’s comfort dog, with the dog house they made for her first birthday and presented at an assembly at Acushnet Elementary School on 5/2/23, L-R: Zora Forcier, Olivia deSousa, Carter Rioux, Dante Andrade, and Sunny. Photo by Beth David
By Beth David, Editor
Acushnet’s comfort dog, Sunny, celebrated her first birthday, complete with gifts, treats, songs, and lots of photos of her life, and, of course, in great company: The entire Acushnet Elementary School.
Students from Old Colony Regional Voc-Tech High School designed and built a doghouse for Sunny, and presented it to her on Tuesday, 5/2.
Carter Rioux and Dante Andrade used CAD (Computer Aided Design) top create the plans. Then they built a small scale model, which was a good thing because they had to make some adjustments.
“Always make a model,” said Mr. Andrade.
Juniors Olivia deSousa and Zora Forcier, who are in the carpentry program, built the doghouse working from a picture of the model built by their classmates.
“I like it, it came out nice,” said Mr. Rioux.
“Carpentry did good,” said Mr. Andrade.
Students from Old Colony Regional Voc-Tech unveil the dog house they made for Sunny, Acushnet’s comfort dog, for her first birthday, at an assembly at Acushnet Elementary School on 5/2/23, L-R: Olivia deSousa, Zora Forcier, Dante Andrade, Carter Rioux, and School Resource Officer and Sunny’s handler, Derek Cathcart. Photo by Beth David
Students wore yellow to show their love for Sunny, and a slide show with lots of pictures of her played on the big screen while music, including “Here Comes the Sun,” and “Sunny (One so True, I love you).”
“It may be raining outside, but the sun is shining at Acushnet Elementary School,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paula Bailey.
Ms. deSousa told the students that her design was chosen, and Mr. Andrade explained how his model helped him fix mistakes.
Ms. Forcier explained how they used a CNC machine to cut the pieces.
“It was a fun project for us,” Ms. deSousa told the students and let them know the can do the same when they get to high school.
“This is fantastic,” said School Resource Officer, and Sunny’s handler, Derek Cathcart, as he thanked the students.
He also presented the students with certificates of appreciation for the gift.
Acushnet’s comfort dog Sunny, shows her appreciation for her first birthday gift to School Resource Officer/handler Derek Cathcart, while the students of Old Colony Regional Voc-Tech, who made the doghouse for her, watch, L-R: Olivia deSousa, Zora Forcier, Carter Rioux, Dante Andrade. Photo by Beth David.
He also thanked the younger students for being the best training facility around for Sunny.
“You’re calm around her, and he learns how to be calm around you,” said Officer Cathcart. “I want to thank you for loving Sunny every day.”
The event is available on the town’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t11fxdzUUZk
With School Resource Officer/handler Derek Cathcart by her side, Acushnet’s comfort dog, Sunny, checks out her new dog house made by students of Old Colony Regional Voc-Tech and presented to her for her first birthday at an assembly at Acushnet Elementary School on 5/2/23. Photo by Beth David.
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