He got a cute star to appear in them.

You might call the story, “Dog Dodger Does Double Duty Delightfully.”

Dodger, a 3-year-old black Labrador retriever, is the Flaherty family’s pet.

For each presentation, Flaherty takes her picture.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
'“Who’s a good dog?” Dodger is a good dog and she gets rewarded Monday with a peanut butter treat. Her human, Duncombe Elementary School Principal Ryan Flaherty, holds her leash. Dodger stars in some of the announcement’s he produces for their closed circuit TV announcements. Student Kayd Moore holds the spoon as his brother Kash Moore, watches and Caidryk Grady, at left, waits for his turn to give her a scoop of the tasty treat.

“She enjoys it,” he said. “She’s having fun. She gets treats for the pictures.”

This is Flaherty’s first year at Duncombe.

“As I transitioned from middle school to elementary I wanted to create a fun way for the students to learn school rules,” he said. “Especially from a dog named Dodger.”

He started out with a couple of messages during the first weeks of school.

He puts a little rhyme into it, along with the pictures of Dodger.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Duncombe Elementary School teacher Kathleen Baade watches as Lisa Flaherty works on Dodger’s “wait” command Monday after a visit with some of the students. Principal Ryan Flaherty and his son Noah Flaherty, 7, help out.

The message this week?

“Today Dodger is talking about listening to your teachers, using your manners and being safe by walking in the hallways,” he said.

Dodger has her own fan base.

“A lot of the kids ask if they can meet Dodger,” he said. “They ask if she can come to school. The kids think it’s really fun and they look forward to hearing her messages.”

Currently, Dodger has gone through a basic obedience class.

For her to be a regular at Duncombe, she would have to be certified as a therapy dog.

Flaherty has firsthand experience with a therapy dog at the Middle School. He said he’s seen how having the dog can benefit the students and staff.

Flaherty is enjoying his new school.

“I’m enjoying being at the elementary level and working with younger students,” he said.

Dodger, who got to make a brief visit Monday, also enjoyed being there. She got peanut butter, lots of petting, a treat and left behind a collection of Dodger’s magic love fibers on the floor.

Flaherty swept them up.

“She sheds a little,” he said, smiling.