Approved at a recent meeting of the Village of Gowanda board meeting, the Dog Stick Library in memory of Pepper Shields is a new resource for area four-legged friends visiting Gateway Park.

Pepper, one of the first therapy dogs to join the Panther family in 2022, was owned by longtime teacher Jacquie Shields, and passed away unexpectedly in May 2025.

“The village board was pleased to approve adding the dog stick library project and believe this meaningful contribution benefitting our community is a fitting legacy for Pepper,” said Mayor Mark D. Nephew, who is also a member of the Board of Education for Gowanda CSD.

Pepper was an integral member of the high school community as well as a source of comfort and support. Gowanda CSD immediately rallied around the Shields family with the Pets And Wildlife for Students (PAWS) elective class rapidly collaborating to bring a “take a stick leave a stick” project into existence.

Pepper poses for a portrait outside Gowanda High School.

“We brainstormed ways to honor her memory in a way that gives back to other dogs and their owners to bond,” says teacher and PAWS advisor Holly Klink, noting School Resource Officer Ben Shields, the husband of Jacquie, handmade the dog stick library sign with love and Sara Lily painted it.

Sticks were all gathered with care by the students and Klink created a lesson on coping with the loss of a pet to help reassure the class it is OK to grieve. They discussed recognizing their emotions and healthy ways to remember pets and honor their memories.

“It was such a meaningful experience,” says Klink. “The love was felt by all involved.”

Shields describes losing Pepper as “the worst” and says she misses her best furry friend every day.

“I was so happy and brought to tears – good tears – when Holly (Klink) told me her PAWS class did some lessons on grief related to pet loss then turned that into a way to remember Pepper,” says Shields, noting she is truly thankful to all the students, Klink and the village. “I thought it was a super cute idea and I hope all the dogs that visit Gateway Park take a stick and leave a stick in honor of Pepper.”

Jacquie Shields, right, looks on as Pepper gets some attention from students on the athletics fields at Gowanda High School.

She also initiated a Pepper Shields Memorial Scholarship funded via “jeans days” at the elementary and high schools along with outside donations.

Cheyanna Pasternack, a member of the Class of 2025 enrolled in the Small Animal Science program at the LoGuidice Educational Center, was the recipient of the first Pepper Shields Memorial Scholarship during a senior recognition ceremony for Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES students studying Career & Technical Education held June 10, 2025, at The State University of New York at Fredonia.

“Although we all have lost Pepper and the genuine sweet personality and love she gave everyone, I’m comforted to see the impact she has had on so many and I hope to keep her memory alive,” says Shields. “I want good to be done in Pepper’s memory for a very long time.”

For anyone wanting to donate to the scholarship fund, there is a savings account started at Community Bank and people can donate directly to it; the Venmo account @peppershieldsscholarship is linked to it. Donors can also mail checks to Mrs. Shields at GHS or reach out to her at msshields@gcslearn.org.

The Pepper Shields Memorial Stick Library features a lovingly gathered collection of sticks available to Gateway Park visitors in Gowanda.

The Pepper Shields Memorial Stick Library features a lovingly gathered collection of sticks available to Gateway Park visitors in Gowanda.