Unofficial Potomac staff member Roxy, who is the Academy Assistant Director Candy Neukam’s canine companion, is a certified therapy dog through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD). Along with providing therapeutic benefits to the Academy’s staff and students, Roxy is also involved in several community outreach projects.
Roxy is a six-year-old American dingo who can often be found lounging in the office or making the rounds to offer moral support (and beg for attention and treats – carrots are her favorite) throughout the workday. She even participated in last year’s Halloween costume party (see photo below)!
“Roxy is such a sweet dog, it just seemed like a natural fit to go through the Therapy Dog certification process,” explains Candy. “Now she goes on official therapy visits and brings a lot of joy and happiness to people of all ages and in all different situations. It’s a real privilege for me to see her do that.” Academy students and faculty alike enjoy visiting her in the office, and she sometimes serves as a practice audience for them!
Roxy is also a regular volunteer at the Tails to Tales program at the City of Fairfax Regional Library, where children take turns reading books to her and giving her lots of love and attention. She recently visited a special education class at Mosby Woods Elementary, where very happy children also read books to her (see photo at top). One child was so enraptured with the animal that he leaned over to Ms. Neukam and said “You’re the luckiest person in the whole world.” She will soon begin visits as a therapy dog to the Sunrise Assisted Living facility near the Academy, where some of our violin students performed an outreach concert in December.
A big thanks to Roxy for all she does here at the office and around the community!