Stories of the Dog-Human Bond
April 2026 | Volume 6
Meet Cece, Harvey Milk High School’s Four-Legged Faculty Member
By Jessica Robinson
This Havanese therapy dog has become a beloved fixture of the school – and was even a runner-up for prom queen.
At New York’s Harvey Milk High School, Cece enjoys a status most visitors can only dream of – her own fan club, her photo on the wall, and a place in school lore as a prom queen contender.
The ten-and-a-half-year-old Havanese is a certified therapy dog with the Good Dog Foundation, although “therapy dog” undersells it – she’s got a title, a schedule and a stellar attendance record.
Every Tuesday morning, she clocks in for rounds: patrolling the halls, visiting classrooms, and offering the kind of quiet companionship that has made her an essential part of the school community.
The first clue that Cece was no ordinary visitor came when students invited her to the prom, not as a guest, but as a contender.
“Her photo has been up in the hallway for years,” says Laura Kaufmann, her human family partner and handler, “but we really knew Cece was woven into the fabric of Harvey Milk when she was invited to the prom and was voted second runner-up for prom queen!”
“The fact that students wanted her photo in the hallway and were excited to have her at the prom says everything about the role she plays in our community,” adds Principal Mark Jabir. “One of my favorite memories is joking with Laura that if students kept missing class because they were spending so much time with Cece in the hallways, we were going to have to give her detention.”
Most High Schools Don’t Have a Dog on Their Faculty. But Then Again, Most High Schools Aren’t Harvey Milk.
To appreciate why a small Havanese matters so much, it helps to understand the school itself.
Founded in 1985 by the Hetrick-Martin Institute in partnership with the New York City Board of Education, this small public school – fewer than 100 students – was designed for, though not limited to, LGBTQ+ students who faced harassment and isolation in traditional schools. Named for pioneering gay rights activist Harvey Milk, who was assassinated in 1978, the school is built around the idea that every student deserves a place where they are seen, respected and able to thrive.
Cece understands that mission instinctively. She never asks students to explain themselves, defend themselves, or be anything other than who they are.
Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California (1930-1978).
Laura Kauffmann, Cece and Lillian Bonsignore, New York’s first openly gay Fire Commissioner, a prior Harvey Milk parent who delivered this year’s graduation keynote.
She Doesn’t Just Visit Harvey Milk – She Works There
Cece is deeply committed to her Tuesday morning routine. Breakfast in the cafeteria is the highlight of her day. Surrounded by students, she works the room from table to table, soaking up hugs, smiles, and the occasional crumb.
But when the first bell rings and students head to class her tail stops wagging. “She becomes really, really sad when the students depart,” says Kaufmann. “But if a few kids linger a little too long, Cece sees it as a chance to offer her assistance, happily escorting them to class, prancing beside them down the hallway. We joke that she’s their personal security detail,” Kaufmann adds with a laugh.
She’s also more punctual than many of the humans around her. “She throws tantrums when she thinks I’m running behind and we’re going to be late to see her students,” Kaufmann says.
Being late is one thing. But totally missing a Tuesday is worse.
“When we miss a Tuesday because of a school closure, she spends the rest of the week leading me and my husband to the school’s front entrance on our morning walks.”
A Scholarship Inspired by Cece
Cece’s impact isn’t limited to the hours she spends in the hallways. Her presence has inspired a tradition that will continue long after any single Tuesday visit: a scholarship for graduating seniors.
Each year, Kaufmann awards a small scholarship to one graduating senior. The scholarship carries the same message Cece delivers each Tuesday: you are seen, you are valued, and you belong.
Laura Kaufmann awarding her 2026 scholarship to graduating student Finley Kinch.
Cece at the prom
When I asked Kaufmann what she hoped students would remember about Cece years from now, her answer came without hesitation: “That they are unconditionally loved and accepted, and that they have people (and dogs) in their corner.”
Cece, on the other hand, has a slightly different legacy in mind: she hopes to be remembered as the dog who almost became Harvey Milk High School’s first canine prom queen.
Jessica and Henry
Jessica Robinson
Jessica Robinson is producer, director, writer, and former head of Robinson Creative Services, a direct response marketing agency
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