Indy Standard

Principal Christine Rembert of James Russell Lowell School 51 has introduced a new member to the school community: MJ, a five-month-old Basset Hound. MJ is being trained as a therapy dog and accompanies Rembert as she visits classrooms and interacts with students.

MJ, whose full name is Michael Jane, is named after Star Trek captains Michael Burnham and Kathryn Janeway. She follows in the footsteps of Rembert’s previous dog, Jean-Luc, who also visited the school but has since retired.

“A colleague has brought her dogs to her school for a few years now, and I got a little jealous when I saw the kiddos interact with them, so I started bringing Jean-Luc,” Rembert said. “ It quickly became apparent that he’s not cut out for the role. So when the opportunity to get a basset hound puppy fell in my lap, I went to investigate. I knew she was mine from the first moment I saw her.  She was the smallest of the litter, and there was just something about her that called out to me. She’s been in my heart since that moment!”

While MJ is officially training to become a therapy dog, Rembert says much of the learning process is hers.

“I’m the one learning how to read her, to teach her, and to recognize what she’s trying to tell me. Just like our students, all behavior is communication. I’m learning to speak MJ.”

Students and staff have responded positively to MJ’s presence at School 51. Her playful nature includes lying down at visitors’ feet for belly rubs.

“Her ears are about twice as long as her legs,” Rembert laughed.

Rembert envisions MJ playing several roles at the school: listening as children read aloud, providing comfort during stressful times, helping with emotional regulation, or simply offering affection.

“I want students to come read to her, snuggle with her when they need some comfort, breathe with her when they need some co-regulation, sit next to her when they need a break, and just love on her when they need some affection. And, adults need that, too.

“She’s already become part of our identity—like Butler University has Butler Blue,” she said. “MJ is becoming a symbol of School 51.”

“Live long and wag on, MJ.”