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From Homeless Mutt to Hero A Former Stray Helping Others Heal Just three years ago, law enforcement officers in Brevard County, Florida, picked up a scruffy stray dog with bad skin allergies who was wandering the streets. Seeing potential in the mutt, they enrolled him in a training program for therapy and comfort dogs. In a remarkable transformation, the former stray was recently named a national “hero dog” for comforting dozens of elementary school students after a mass shooting at Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee. Guided by his handler, Faye Okert, Sgt. Bo offered snuggles, warmth, and emotional support to children traumatized by the tragedy. “When he walks into a room, he knows who needs his help,” Okert says. “They instantly feel safe and comforted.” Sgt. Bo seemed destined for a shelter for homeless pets in 2022 when the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office enrolled him in their Paws and Stripes College, a program that trains carefully selected homeless dogs to be therapy and comfort companions. After learning about the program, Okert, an officer at the time with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, contacted the College to adopt a graduate of the program.
If you notice that your dog is uncomfortable, there are some effective joint supplements and medications out there
that can help. Additionally, laser therapy can help alleviate pain in dogs with painful joints. And, of course, no dog would ever refuse cozy, soft bedding. Yes, your dog may have become a little fatter this winter (ahem, and maybe you did, too), and it’s a good idea to get them to drop a few pounds. However, please go slow and easy with them so they can get themselves back in gear physically and really enjoy the season. And if you notice your dog exhibiting any of the
symptoms I’ve mentioned, please call Petersen Pet Hospital for help with making them feel better and more ready to enjoy the great outdoors.
–Sam Chief Barketing Officer
After seeing Sgt. Bo’s photo, however, Okert almost passed him up. He was battling skin allergies at the time and looked so scruffy that Okert was afraid people would make fun of him. She traveled to Florida, planning to ask for a different dog. But after watching Sgt. Bo in training and meeting him face-to-face, she realized
PEANUT BUTTER BANANA DOG COOKIES
INGREDIENTS
she had found the right one. She describes Sgt. Bo as “an old soul in a young dog’s body” who enjoys helping humans in distress. One of Sgt. Bo’s early assignments was to comfort Covenant School’s surviving students as they were reunited with their parents after the 2023 shooting, which claimed the lives of three children, three adults, and the shooter, a former student. Sgt. Bo was selected by the American Humane Society as America’s 2025 Hero Dog for his service to the kids of Nashville, beating out four impressive canine runners-up. Hundreds of dogs are nominated every year for the award, and the public then votes on five semifinalists. Calling Sgt. Bo’s story “inspiring,” Humane Society President Dr. Robin Ganzert said, “This scruffy superstar embodies everything the American Humane Society looks for in a dog: service, resiliency, and love.” His work, she added, “is a beautiful testament to the healing power of the human-animal bond.”
• 1 3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, divided • 1/2 banana, cut into 4 pieces • 1/4 cup peanut butter with no artificial sweeteners • 1 egg
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or non-stick spray. 2. In a food processor, grind 1 1/2 cups of oats into a flour texture, then move to a medium bowl. 3. In the food processor, combine bananas, peanut butter, and egg until well blended. 4. Pour mixture into bowl with oat flour, then add the remaining 1/4 cup of oats and stir. 5. Scoop out 1 tbsp portions and roll into balls. 6. Using a fork, flatten balls and make a criss-cross pattern. Bake for 15 minutes. 7. Let cool before serving; keeps for a week in an airtight container.
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