This Therapist Has Four Legs

Please welcome HERO to the team!

Here at Cheboygan-Otsego-Presque Isle Educational Service District (COPESD), we are very fortunate to be a recipient of a grant funded facility dog through the Rebeccah Williams Foundation, he also received his training and completed his certification through Paws With A Cause. Although Hero has been a part of our team for a short amount of time, he has proven to be an extremely valuable employee.

Hero started to transition into his new role over the summer as the therapy dog at COPESD, by making weekly visits to the office. He walks up and down the halls of the building, poking his nose into each office door that is cracked to say hello and get pets from anyone willing to give them out. He will spend most of his time in the schools throughout the ten districts that COPESD services, has done a wonderful job at making all of the employees at the Main Office feel a sense of ease and brings so much happiness to everyone he meets. He will have a team of handlers who are trained with integrating him into the schools/classrooms.

This is Hero’s first school year! He will be a steady presence for students needing comfort during stressful moments, emotional learning support and to simply put a smile on everyone’s face, especially on those difficult days. He will bring connection, reassurance and a renewed sense of confidence to everyone around him. With all the hard work he will be doing, he will also get plenty of breaks, snacks and movement throughout the workday as well.