Kali, a black Labrador, can do tricks – real human-type tricks.

Instead of “sit, roll over or fetch” she turns lights on and off, retrieves dropped items, motivates handicapped students to walk, helps with their physical therapy and even puts items on trays for the students. Kali works at Woodlake Elementary and has a St. Tammany Parish School ID to prove it.

She also can open and close drawers, open handicap doors at the hospital and acts as a guide for handicapped students.

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Kali is a trained NEADS dog, National Education for Assistance Dog Service, and was part of an award given to Woodlake Elementary School by Samsung in December 2007. The award was presented at a concert for the school by Alyson and Amanda Joy Michalka, aka Aly and AJ of Disney Channel fame.

Kali’s human companion, who is with her in and out of the classroom, is Joel Hamm, special education preschool teacher.

Hamm said that apart from her other skills, Kali helps calm students with anxiety through petting therapy, letting them pet her to soothe them. The school counselor has Kali help with students that have problems at home, suffer from anxiety or depression.

The students, all under 10 years old, tell Kali their problems, their troubles and talk to her as a friend. Kali helps them open up and talk to counselors that can help them.

Kali has lead an interesting life. Raised in a puppy prison program, Kali lived with a prisoner until she was 1-1/2 years old. She also was in the puppy raiser program where she received socialization.

At 1-1/2 years she entered the disability and service assistance program. The teacher who will be her companion trains with her.

Hamm said the dog is matched with the owner/teacher’s personality. She had to fill out a four-page questionnaire to be matched to Kali.

Hamm said life with Kali at home is much the same as it is at school, although it took Kali about a year to figure out she wasn’t expected to work all the time. “Now she goes in the yard and plays just like any other dog.” In fact, Hamm has two other dogs, a Boston terrier and a miniature dachshund.

“She has taught the other two dogs some of her duties,” said Hamm. She barks only on command, but will give an “alert” bark at home if a stranger enters the yard. Then she finds her human to let them know there is a stranger on the premises.

Hamm said Kali is a calming pressure for children and will instinctively secure a child who needs help. At nap time, she will make the rounds, sniffing each child to make certain they are there. Then she lays down in her nap wagon and naps, also.

Kali can go anywhere a guide dog for the blind can go, although she is the only NEAPS trained dog in the state. Hamm says she takes her everywhere to keep her acclimated in public places. The family often visits Chili’s and Kali simply lays down under the table or booth and no one even knows she’s there.

At first, stores thought she was bringing her pet in, not being familiar with the assistance program. She has educated a lot of people about the program. “Not everyone knows what a service dog does,” said Hamm.

The perfect dog, Kali goes to the rest room on command, but not in the house. She visits the Bark Park and has made friends. “She’s better than many humans,” said Hamm. “In fact, I nearly did not pass the assistance test, because she would not bark.”

Although she seems like the perfect dog, the assistance program is expensive—about $12,000 to train the dog and the teacher they will be working and living with.

The life expectancy is the same as a regular dog. In Kali’s case, about 10-14 years.

Silent throughout the interview, except for the introductory inspection, Kali was asked, “Do you like you life?” She seemed to smile and wagged her tail in answer.