Pinpoints Pinpoints Magazine Spring 2020 | Page 22

Simply GOLDEN
Let’s all Paws a Moment and Brighten our Day. Her kind, furry face with bright eyes
that twinkle, her big front paws that “shake hands” enthusiastically, her tail that
thump, thump, thumps on the floor when a friend walks by – meet Scarlet, School
Dog Extraordinaire. The Lexington School’s 45-pound Golden Doodle, Scarlet (as in
Scarlet Gate), is a day-brightener by anybody’s standards.
Originally the 2019 Celebration puppy, Scarlet got
sick, and another pup took her place. Elizabeth Banks,
DVM, mother of seventh grader Matthew, fourth grader
Tyler, and Andrew, third grade, saw to it that Scarlet was
soon on the road to recovery. A happy ending – actually,
a happy beginning. Scarlet spends her nights with the
MacCarthy-Freeman family, Ms. Mac, Reid Freeman ’74 ,
Hart Freeman , Katharine Freeman ’04 , Justin Freeman ’17 ,
and George Freeman ’19 . When Scarlet spends her days at
TLS – her school home base is Ms. Mac’s office suite –
and she loves every minute. Ms. MacCarthy points out,
“Early-morning arrivals ask, ‘Can I just hang out with
her?’ There is a constant stream of kids with her. Every
student passes here several times a day. Little kids see her
when they’re on the way to specials. Lower Schoolers
walk by here, headed to lunch. This is a central location.
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It’s never a forced time together, and I believe having
Scarlet here is healthy for this point in their lives.”
A friendly and gentle presence, Scarlet is a fixture in
the office of Mary Beth Noel, Assistant to the Head of
School, always on a leash which is hooked under the sofa
leg to give most room to roam. That includes Scarlet’s
being able to stretch out at the doorway, with her head
and front paws extending just into the hallway. Ms.
Mac notes, “When she’s in the hall, students don’t have
to be engaged if they don’t want to.” Most students
and adults can’t help but smile, of course, when they
see that sweet head, just waiting for a pat. Scarlet also
appreciates having her tummy rubbed.
Ms. Noel (Scarlet’s “co-parent,” as Ms. MacCarthy
calls her) says, “I look forward to seeing Scarlet every
day. I miss her over break, and Una tells me she misses
me too. That sweet dog does something funny every
day, and it makes me love her even more.”
First grader Arnold, a great Scarlet fan, says, “She
is soft and fluffy. I get to pet her all the time. I pet
her in the morning before I have to go to school and
after school before I leave. She makes me feel happy
and excited. I’m very lucky to have a dog at school.”
Another Scarlet admirer, seventh grader Sukriti,
agrees, “Scarlet is always at Ms. Mac’s office to say
hi, and everyone is glad to see her. We’ve all known
her since she was a puppy, so we have a connection
to her. One time she stepped on a pen and turned
all blue. We called her a blueberry. It was hilarious. I
taught Scarlet to shake, and she mastered it quickly.
She gets lots of love and attention. She is sweet and
calm, and I adore her.”
Because of Scarlet, TLS folks are as happy as a dog
with two tails.