by Jonathan Zrostlik
Tabor, an 18-month-old black lab, is a prison-trained dog used to help Hope Bernick develop better conversation skills. As black labs tend to be smart and friendly, the dog functions as a good conversation tool to help Hope communicate with other students.
To illustrate, say a student approaches Tabor and wants to pet him. First, the student needs to ask Hope if it’s okay to do so. You should not feed the dog and remember to always approach with caution. Tabor also knows basic commands but is not a pet: he is a service dog.
Tabor and Hope have been in places outside of school such as church, restaurants, and community outings. “You may even see him at the football games,” says Mrs. Vyncke, “The truth is he’s here to help Hope better communicate.”
Expect to see Tabor a lot more now; he will be here every morning between 8:30 and 11:30.