Griff isn’t a student, a member of the faculty or even a huskie. But the golden retriever fits right in at Oak Park and River Forest High School just the same.

Griff is the school’s new — and first — facility dog, and after only a week at the job he’s already turning heads and making friends.

“He has been inundated with students and staff alike wanting to meet him and pet him,” said Ginger Bencola, the high school’s prevention and wellness coordinator. She’s also Griff’s handler, so she’s seen the impact he’s had on the school.

“I feel like any hallway I walk through with him, heads turn and there are smiles,” she said. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced.”

It’s all good for Griff, who, at a year-and-a-half, has enough energy and patience for everyone and everything — which is good. As the facility dog, patience is his job. Griff comes to the school courtesy of Paws Giving Independence, a nonprofit that specializes in service animals.

But Griff isn’t a traditional service animal in that he’s not assigned to a particular student or to a particular task. Rather, his assignment is the whole school and his task is to keep everyone feeling good.

Griff, a golden retriever, poses with his first day of school certificate at Oak Park and River Forest High School. Griff was recently brought in as the school’s full-time facility dog. (Oak Park and River Forest High School)

It is a big assignment.

“I would say Griff is going to be adding to the culture and climate,” Bencola said. She explained this means the dog will help students feel safe, secure and calm. Students may request time to pet him, relax with him or just be near him when they need it.

“Dogs have been proven to show reductions in stress and anxiety and comfort during difficult moments,” Bencola said.

High school has plenty of those moments and, in the past, the school has brought in dogs for tough times, like testing weeks.

 

Griff, the facility dog at Oak Park and River Forest High School, interacts with people in the office of Ginger Bencola, the high school’s prevention and wellness coordinator who also is Griff’s handler. (Oak Park and River Forest High School)

“I’ve brought in volunteer therapy dogs every year in our school,” Bencola said. “We’ve typically had lines down the hallways waiting to see the dogs, so we knew there was a need.”

But Griff is here to stay, and he’ll be around, day in and day out. In just a few days, Bencola said she’s heard from students who have said the dog has brightened their day.

“It’s clear he’s bringing joy to everyone,” she said.

So far, Griff is still being introduced to the students. With only a couple of weeks left in the semester, Griff is himself still getting used to his new role. Next semester, Bencola said, the role will become clearer.

“We’re going to start scheduling (meeting times with Griff) next semester, so if students are having a rough day or a rough moment, they’ll be able to reach out to their support person and request that support make an appointment to see Griff and if Griff is available, he’ll be able to meet him.”

Which is pretty much the same as any human support person.

People interact with Griff, Oak Park and River Forest High School’s new facility dog. Griff comes to the school from Paws Giving Independence, a nonprofit that specializes in service animals. (Oak Park and River Forest High School)

Bencola said she expects the system to go well and by the end of the school year the dog will be a familiar face on campus. She also said she expects more schools to adopt a model like this one.

“I know we’re not the first,” she said. “Yes, it’s becoming more common, but I don’t think it’s very common still. It’s an emerging field.”

But for OPRF, the results are clear. Griff is a good dog and a good fit.

“I’m excited,” said Bencola.

Jesse Wright is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press. 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/09/oak-park-river-forest-facility-dog/