K9 Offering Support in the Wake of MSU Shooting
Thursday, February 16, 2023
2 min read
Collectively, we need to offer support to the victims’ loved ones, the injured and everyone who endured this violence, including our law enforcement officers and first responders.
The deadly shooting on Michigan State University’s campus left a grief-stricken community reeling. Three students were killed and five gravely wounded.
Six miles away from the site of attack, the Ingham County 911 Central Dispatch Center helped to route first responders to the sprawling campus in East Lansing. The emotional distress and trauma tied to horrific events like Monday’s campus shooting can impact law enforcement officers, dispatchers, and emergency crews.
Jessie, a certified therapy dog, is providing emotional support to her team at the Ingham County 911 Central Dispatch Center where she is stationed as part of a K9s For Warriors Station Dog initiative.
The Station Dog program, provides therapy dogs to law enforcement officers, firefighters, dispatchers, and others who are repeatedly exposed to traumatic experiences in the line of duty and need emotional support.
K9s For Warriors uses retired Service Dogs or dogs that did not meet the requirements to be a Service Dog but make great therapy dogs for the Station Dog program.
Jessie, a rescue dog turned therapy dog, isn’t dispatched on emergencies. Her commitment is to those who are bravely responding. Jessie provides comfort and eases the stress felt by dispatchers and everyone at the center.
“Jessie is providing love, care and healing to these responders who are experiencing this awful tragedy at Michigan State University and is why we created this program,” K9s For Warriors CEO Carl Cricco said. “Collectively, we need to offer support to the victims’ loved ones, the injured and everyone who endured this violence, including our law enforcement officers and first responders.”
K9s For Warriors’ mission is to end veteran suicide through the use of Service Dogs and is also devoted to helping first responders serving in communities across the country through its Station Dog program, recognized by the American Kennel Club as a therapy dog program.
