A male black Labrador retriever named Coal will soon be part of the school day at Welch Elementary School in McDowell County. The school received the first certified therapy dog as part of a program called Friends With Paws announced by Gov. Jim Justice and first lady Cathy Justice. The dogs are meant to give students an emotional boost and the goal of the program is to place a total of at least 10 dogs in Mountain State schools in 2022. The program is a partnership between the Governor’s Office, West Virginia Community in Schools and the West Virginia Department of Education.