Photos: Going to the dogs
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
By candlelight, Catherine Ricchetti, center, a social worker for the Guilderland schools, talks to Guilderland High School students about her social service dog, Miss Sigmund, at a gala on March 21 at the Franklin Plaza Ballroom in Troy sponsored by the Bloomingrove Veterinary Hospital to raise funds to train five puppies to work with students.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Honored social service dogs are pictured behind two gala-goers at the entrance last Saturday at Franklin Plaza in Troy. Miss Siggy, left, a goldendoodle owned by social worker Catherine Ricchetti started the program in the Guilderland schools over a decade ago. Willow, right, a labradoodle, lives with Pine Bush fifth-grade teacher Keith VanWagenen. Ricchetti secured a $6,700 grant from the community Foundation of the Greater Capital District that will cover the cost of five puppies who will work with teams in the schools. The gala raised funds for training.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Gift perusing: This gentlemen looks down a table of items up for auction during the gala to benefit the expansion of social service dog program at Guilderland Central School District. “Every school should have a dog,” said social worker Catherine Ricchetti, the founder of the program, who has written two books on the subject.