August 4, 2023 By Chris Foy FRP-23 Pups MerrittMerritt is a Kerry Blue Terrier from Arizona with a hip braid down her nose. She: 🐾 Began the therapy dog program at the Tempe Jail, in Tempe, AZ, along with her partner Stephanie 🐾 Makes the long trek to the jail multiple times a week to “give a reason to smile” and “a bit of Sunshine” to the jail officers and dispatch call responders 🐾 Serves children with special needs and in crisis situations 🐾 Has a calm disposition but “is always willing to play fetch.”Madison• Loves visiting frontline workers at area hospitals in central Florida • Was rescued at the age of 3 and is a self-appointed guide dog for her fur sibling Rocky, who is sight-impaired • Can sense when someone is having a difficult day and will place her head on their knee or linger longer with them until they’ve relaxed • Is a certified therapy dog through GRRMF Hearts of GoldLucky• Is an English Black Labrador Retriever and AKC-certified ER and hospital therapy dog • Serves the staff and patients at Grosse Pointe Beaumont Hospital, in Grosse Pointe, Michigan • Is an award-winning trick dog, with novice, intermediate, and advanced AKC titles • Loves doing tricks and bringing smiles and laughterHenry PomchesterHe may be a small dog, but Henry has “a big heart.” Here’s why: • He visits schools to provide support during mental wellness and suicide prevention programs • He has met “well over 100,000 students since 2016 during these programs” • After the death of a student, Henry was a first responder and comforting presence to friends and familyGoose• Got his name from the movie “Top Gun” and is meant to be “a copilot in stressful situations” • Is training with Dog Training Elite to serve the Savannah Police Department and the community • Responds to behavioral health calls with his handler and participates in critical incident debriefings, school events, classroom meetings, department engagements, SWAT Training, and community events • Started this work at the age of just 8 weeksSwifferBeing in the hospital stinks. Swiffer makes it better. He: • visits patients and staff at the University of Maryland Medical Center and UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center • even during the pandemic met virtually with patients and providers—three days a week, twice a day; and, by relieving stress, “most certainly saved lives,” according to a hospital administrator • especially enjoys getting his belly rubbedSparkie• has “met, loved, and comforted thousands of first responders” in just two years of therapy work with her handler, a firefighter • has made over 200 visits since she was certified as a therapy dog—to Police, Fire, Dispatch, EMS and Medflight locations all over the state of Massachusetts • is an Australian Labradoodle, known for her goofy approach and engaging personality • has been featured in the news for her workRose• is an AKC-recognized therapy dog and Ambassador for the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, in Hernando County, Florida serving more than 600 personnel • is on duty 24/7, and during the nights and weekends provides calm to 911 dispatchers and deputies • visits local schools and attends the Law Enforcement Academy, challenging the cadets to push-up and running competitions, which she usually wins • was a service dog for a veteran before coming to the Agency through the organization K9s for WarriorsRetta• was adopted on New Year’s Day in 2022 after being dumped on the streets of Austin • passed her therapy dog evaluation in July 2022 and now visits two hospitals, a library, a memory care facility, and numerous other facilities • is registered as a therapy dog with Therapy Animals of San Antonio • is “rather unusual” for a Chihuahua: She’s “very calm,” “likes people of all ages,” and loves to curl up in patients’ laps or on their bed • is only 8.5 pounds but “has a big influence for good”MaxNope, he’s not just another pretty face. Max has earned those stars on his “Hero” vest. He: • Was deployed as the therapy dog at Ocean City Fire Department after the tragic suicide of a local paramedic • Is a member of the PEER Support team that provides a comforting presence after traumatic calls and supports firefighters, paramedics, fire marshals, beach patrol, and police officers • Travels to local schools and daycares to help teach kids about fire prevention • “Is an essential and cherished part of the department” who “has helped address and prevent mental health issues”K9 SandyJoshuaJoshua hails from Rochester, New York. He • is not just one hot dog—he’s the founding dog of RocDog, created in March 2021 to support first responders and their communities • gets around: Has made over 1100 visits in just over two years • works with law enforcement, courts, probation, and the 911 call center • visits hospitals, senior homes, the library, and other community eventsJessie• Is the first therapy dog to serve emergency dispatchers at the 911 Call Center in Ingham County, Michigan • Provided comfort to dispatchers on February 13, 2023, when a mass shooting occurred at Michigan State University, claiming the lives of three students and injuring five others • Was the subject of a local NBC news story • Received her training from K9s for Warriors, an organization that trains rescues to become therapy dogsJanie• Is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi and certified law enforcement therapy dog with over 200 deployments in two Florida counties • Holds multiple titles through the American Kennel Club for her service, including Canine Good Citizen, Community Canine, Urban Canine, and Therapy Dog Excellent • Supports personnel and their families after critical incidents • Assists traumatized victims, especially children in child abuse cases (whether in forensic interviews, at the hospital, or in the courtroom)Gouda Anne HammettIf cats have nine lives, mega-talented Gouda Anne has at least five: • as a trained police and FBI dog/K9 attack dog—fluent in French and German commands • as a survivor fending for herself after her previous owner died • as a rescue who moved from the state of Tennessee to her new home in Mississippi • as a certified seeing eye dog for her current trainer and handler • as a therapy dog in training that helps blind children learn, assists first responders at community events, is a supportive presence to those with disabilities, and performs many other volunteer services to the communityEliEli lives in Ontario, Canada. He also: • specializes in bringing smiles to seniors at the long-term facility that he visits weekly • was featured on the 6 o’clock news for his work providing mental and emotional support to students in final exams at York University • is a member of Canada’s St. John Ambulance Dog Therapy program, which has over 3,500 volunteer dog teamsDeuce• Has been a therapy dog since November 2013 • Primarily visits hospice patients and their families: During the transition from life to death, will often lie on the patient’s bed to bring comfort and peace and assist with goodbyes • Visits homeless shelters and a children’s hospital • Supported staff and first responders in the wake of the Oxford High School shooting in Oxford, MichiganBusterA diagnosis of hip dysplasia kept him from being officially certified for service dog work, but “Buster did not let his career change get him down.” In fact, he: • proudly serves the Jacksonville (FL) Sheriff’s Office and its 3000 sworn members of law enforcement and several thousand civilian workers • sits with officers who experience difficult calls and victims during emotionally fraught interviews • made such a positive difference at the Sheriff’s Office that now, thanks to Buster, they’ve acquired a second therapy dog DunkinAnna• is a therapeutic presence for the residents and staff at Westchester County Department of Correction in New York • makes weekly visits to the jail to support incarcerated mothers and fathers, through the Parenting, Prison, & Pups program, which administers a parenting curriculum in conjunction with emotional support from therapy dogs • was rescued and adopted as a puppy, after being abandoned in a sewer with her brothers and sisters, but went on to earn her certification as a therapy dog at the age of three • visits area schools and is a source of support to future criminal justice professionalsNani• Serves the Emergency Department staff at RUSH University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois • Has had such an impact that she has received glowing testimonies from staff on the hospital’s social media accounts • Volunteers at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab • Is a certified therapy dog through Canine Therapy CorpsK9-HudsonAt just 17 months old, this Goldendoodle from Cayce, South Carolina, knows how to wear a bowtie and turn on the Southern charm. He also: • Is “the most unique therapy dog in South Carolina” • is the first-ever therapy dog at the Cayce Police Department and works full-time in a school in Lexington 2 School District—"no other law enforcement jurisdiction has a therapy K9 specifically assigned to work inside our schools each and every day” • has assisted victims of crimes, helped children get through the school day, and supported other agencies in line of duty deaths • visits patients at Lexington Medical CenterPete“Therapy dog Pete,” as his handler affectionately calls him, serves the roughly 1,500 members of the Prince George’s County Police Department in Maryland. Some other cool tidbits about Pete: • He responded to the January 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol where Officer Brian Sicknick and Capitol Police Officer William Evans were killed • In addition to responding to critical incidents, he visits officers daily and provides “routine check-ins” • He and his handler work with other jurisdictions to train and facilitate therapy dog programs • Is a French BrittanyBella• was selected to be North Dakota’s first comfort dog and did such a good job that she inspired a second therapy dog to come work with her • visits elementary schools with her handler, a School Resource Officer for the West Fargo Police Department, in West Fargo, North Dakota • is a member of the police department’s PEER Assistance Team and responds to and comforts officers after critical incidents • helped her handler attain recognition as “Officer of the Year” for his work in starting the first comfort dog programStryker• is the face of Tail Wagging Platoon, a division of the non-profit organization Alpha Bravo Canine, which raises, trains, and donates service dogs to disabled veterans • provides support to local firefighters and paramedics, as part of a partnership with the Philadelphia Fire Department and Local 22 • brings his co-workers and dog friends to a different fire station each week • likes to greet every single person in the fire station and show them he is there for themLexi Blue• is a two-year-old comfort dog at the Lenexa, Kansas Police Department • comforts crime victims during police interviews, such as when victims of human trafficking were interviewed by detectives • provides therapeutic services to the community and members of the police department after traumatic events like a recent officer-involved shooting • accompanies School Resource Officers to local schools to provide support after traumatic eventsBennie• Is an official “K9 Officer” with the York City Police Department, in York, Pennsylvania • Got his name from Medal of Honor Recipient Command Sergeant Major Bennie Gene Adkins, who received the MOH for his heroism in battle during the Vietnam War • Serves in Critical Incident Stress Management debriefings and regularly visits 6-10 schools and York Hospital staff, patients, and children • Is training to be able to track and locate missing persons, especially children and the elderly • Has been featured in the newsBenny• Has “an angelic presence” • Recently joined the Hearts of Gold therapy dog program for Golden Retriever rescues • Provides support to hospital families and staff • Belongs to a longtime veteran of the U.S. Air Force and Reserves who says, “if it weren’t for Benny, I would not be here.”
