Around Hopewell
Therapy Dog Making a Difference in Hopewell
Sir Tibbetts Wick, also known as Tibbs, has had a very strong impact on the students, staff, and morale of Hopewell High School. Tibbs is a therapy dog who visits various states, spreading encouragement wherever he goes. His handler, Dr. Jan Dreshman, a school counselor at Hopewell High, has been permitted by the school administration to bring Tibbs to school to offer emotional support to all. They both complete approximately 40 hours of training a year in order to maintain Tibbs’ certification. Additionally, he worked 12 weeks at the beginning, familiarizing himself with all of the things related to being a therapy dog.
Therapy dogs like Tibbs are part of a broader category of service animals that are specially trained in order to provide for individuals with a variety of physical, emotional, or psychological needs. Service animals and people with disabilities are trained to perform specific tasks and behaviors, such as helping the blind navigate or signaling that someone is about to have a seizure. Therapy animals learn to offer emotional support and comfort in group settings like hospitals, schools, and disaster relief areas. Emotional support animals require no training, but therapy dogs are trained and certified professionally and typically work alongside their owners in a professional or volunteer role.
During COVID-19, Tibbs supported beyond schools, visiting emergency rooms, intensive care units, and medical offices to comfort both patients and healthcare professionals. These visits required additional training to help Tibbs become familiar with medical equipment and the unique atmosphere of healthcare environments.
Tibbs is officially certified by Therapy Dogs United and, most recently, received the honor as one of 12 national therapy dog superstars for 2023, 2024, and 2025, a true reflection of his outstanding dedication to service. Alongside his school and hospital visits, Tibbs also participates in Sunday school with kids, where he becomes a leader, sitting in a chair and showing good manners, which encourages the children to join. He also supports the military by going to meet-and-greet sessions and has provided comfort in different states, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and West Virginia.
Dr. Dreshman said that she didn’t initially aim to certify Tibbs as a therapy dog, but his calm, intuitive nature made it clear that he was tailor-made for the job. Therapy dogs like Tibbs exhibit an extraordinary sensitivity to the emotional state of humans, qualities that would benefit them in therapeutic environments.
At Hopewell High School
I was able to follow Dr. Dreshman and Tibbs through multiple periods of class and see how they interacted with students and teachers. Tibbs is affectionately known by numerous nicknames throughout the school. During his last visit, it was apparent that the amount of comfort and joy he provided.
Tibbs strictly follows  Dr. Dreshman and will not go into classes until they have permission from the teacher that it is okay.  The one most apparent thing was Tibbs’ sensitivity to other people’s feelings; in some cases, he would notice a shift in someone’s body language or tone and quietly get up and sit beside them, offering quiet comfort and reassurance. Typically, Tibbs sticks close to Dr. Dreshman, but in this moment, he allows his gut instincts to lead him and senses where he’s needed.
Dr. Dreshman reported, “The well-being of students visibly enhances after a Sir Tibbetts visit.” Tibbs is simply a dog—he’s an instrument of Hope and Happiness at Hopewell.
Dr. Kartychak, Hopewell High School principal, said, “The noticeable change that Tibbs has on all of our students is extraordinary. Seeing him change the attitudes of our students for the better makes his visits on positive days beneficial. I would like to see Tibbs more regularly, so students can familiarize themselves with him.”
Also, one of our teachers in high school experienced a family loss, and Tibbs could attend the funeral to give support and comfort. When she was asked what Tibbs did for her and her family, she responded: “Tibbs made my dad smile for the first time in days since my mom had passed. He lightened the mood of the room. I also felt calm and pure love when he was present. Tibbs could change the sadness and sorrow to pure affection and love within a second. He affected the family a lot. My nieces and nephews played with him and were giggling and smiling. It was a wonderful, loving distraction from an extremely intimidating time.”
Finally, I would like to thank Dr. Dreshman personally for the opportunity to shadow her for part of the day, and Dr. Karytchak for facilitating wonderful opportunities such as Sir Tibbetts’ visit to our school and the accommodation to feature him.
