When Roberts Academy fifth grader Tate Borthwick woke up for school on Dec. 13, he had no idea he was about to make a doggone paw-some discovery.
“During after school, I looked out the library window and saw a dog sitting by the statue we just got,” Borthwick said. “I said, ‘Hey, Ms. Grove! There’s a dog outside!’”
Borthwick spotted the medium-sized, curly-haired dog sitting quietly by the school’s new sculpture, which had been unveiled during the Academy’s building dedication in October. Established in July 2024 and made possible through a historic and transformational gift, Roberts Academy at Mercer University is Georgia’s only school for children with dyslexia outside of Metro Atlanta.
Caroline Grove, the Academy’s student support and information specialist, immediately jumped into action.
“It was very cold and wet that day,” she said. “I wanted to catch the dog so we could return it to its owner.”
Shy and skittish, the dog bolted when Grove approached.
“At first, we assumed it had escaped from the dog park. It happens sometimes,” Grove said. “But once we got closer, we could tell it was some sort of doodle that was likely abandoned and needed help. It was covered in twigs and leaves, its fur was extremely matted, and it looked malnourished.”
Grove immediately thought of Mercer University Vice Provost Dr. Kelly Reffitt — a member of the Academy’s School Advisory Council and a regular volunteer at the school. She remembered Dr. Reffitt had a soft spot for rescue dogs and would know how to help.
“She jumped right in to help us look for her the next morning,” Grove said.
Dr. Reffitt and Grove — along with the Academy’s P.E. teacher Dr. Adam Keath, an assistant professor of teacher education at Mercer — spent nearly an hour-and-a-half tracking the pup down.
Their determination was fueled by more than compassion. Grove and Head of School Joy Wood had been dreaming of bringing a therapy dog into the school community since before the Academy opened.
“I’ve long known that dogs can be a powerful source of comfort and connection, especially for students with learning differences,” Wood said. “There’s something uniquely calming about a dog’s presence — it can help students feel safe, seen and supported in ways that go beyond words.”
Therapy dogs can offer powerful benefits for students with learning differences like dyslexia. Research shows that their presence in schools helps reduce stress and improve reading comprehension.
After a long and muddy search, Grove and Dr. Reffit finally found the dog — a young female labradoodle — nestled in a briar patch near Mercer’s intramural fields. Dr. Reffitt said rescuing her was a roller coaster.
“Finding Sammie was quite the adventure. At one point, I wondered if we’d ever be able to catch her,” she said. “But it was all worth it to see her safe, warm and loved at Roberts. I believe the students will benefit tremendously from having her as part of their school day. We found her, and she found Roberts Academy, at just the right time.”
Grove and Wood named the dog Sammie after Samuel Orton, one of the developers of the Orton-Gillingham Approach. The school uses the approach to teach second through fifth graders reading, writing and spelling. The Academy will introduce sixth grade in August.
“Naming the dog Sammie felt like a perfect fit,” Wood said. “Not only is it a nod to Samuel Orton, whose work helps our students every day, but it also symbolizes the journey every student takes. Just like Sammie found her way to Roberts Academy, our students find their way through the Orton-Gillingham Approach.”
In the days following the rescue, Grove had Sammie examined and groomed by a veterinarian, who confirmed there was no microchip and said it was clear Sammie had been on her own for a while. Shortly after she was cleared by the veterinarian, Sammie began to slowly meet the Academy’s 34 students. (Since then, the school has grown to 37 students.)
“She fit right in,” Grove said. “Within the first few weeks of introducing her to our students, Sammie provided a lot of comfort and helped ease a lot of anxiety. She’s helped give some students the confidence to read out loud.”
Noah Bearden, a second grader at the Academy, said he finds comfort in having Sammie at the school.
“She’s a good girl, and when you’re sad or we have a hard day, she comforts us,” he said. “At my old school, I was shy to read out loud, so it’s hard for me to do that, but Sammie helps me.”
Now a beloved fixture in the school community, Sammie has her own Instagram account — @SammieTheDyslexicDoodle — where “she” shares facts about dyslexia and highlights the strengths of students who learn differently.
Sammie recently completed an immersive obedience training course and will soon begin the therapy dog certification process.
She’s also preparing to welcome new friends to the school’s Roaring to Read: Literacy Quest summer camp this June.
“We know Sammie will be especially helpful to campers who might not be as familiar with Roberts Academy as our current students,” Grove said. “We hope she helps them feel welcomed and excited to be at camp.”
For Wood, Sammie’s arrival is nothing short of divine timing.
“Rescuing Sammie felt like a God wink — like the right dog found us at just the right time,” Wood said. “We had been talking and dreaming about bringing a therapy dog into our school for months, and then suddenly, there she was, sitting right outside our doors — and just in time for Christmas. She was the perfect gift for our students.”
