Sean & Cooper

Four Paws on Duty

What makes a hero? Movies often portray heroes as individuals with super-human powers battling against evil. But true heroes typically emerge from quieter, everyday acts of kindness and compassion that sustain and uplift our communities. These are the individuals who lend a helping hand to those in need, protect our freedoms, inspire positive change, extinguish the flames of fires, and take life-saving actions for strangers. Heroes come in many forms, and for the Isanti County Sheriff’s Office, one such hero comes with four paws, a wagging tail, and a cape of his own—a vest that reads Therapy Dog.

In the spring of 2024, FSD Professional Therapy Dog Cooper (formerly known as Guppy) began his new role as an official deputy with the Isanti County Sheriff’s Office with his partner, Investigator Sean. Together, Sean and Cooper are making a significant impact by providing comfort and stress relief to victims amidst mental health crisis, domestic and sexual violence, tragedies, critical incidents, death notifications, and during jury trials. They are also a readily available resource for their coworkers in the Sheriff’s Office. According to Sean, helping people is their number one priority every day.

Sean and Cooper’s work begins the moment they step into the office. As members of law enforcement, Sean and his colleagues often face repeated trauma on a day-to-day basis, which can take a toll on their mental health and wellbeing. Unfortunately for many first responders in our nation, this can lead to PTSD, depression, and anxiety. To help ease these feelings, Sean makes it a priority to start each day by bringing Cooper to say good morning to the team. “I keep note of the people I know are having a difficult time and we give them support first. If they want to talk, Cooper and I are there to listen, or they can just pet him. There are people I never would have guessed that are struggling who are very receptive once they see Cooper,” shares Sean.

With full reign of the secured office area, Cooper brings stress relief, comfort, and a much-needed distraction to everyone in the office. “Cooper makes people laugh,” says Sean, “As cops, we deal with a lot of trauma people don’t see. We have a hard job, but Cooper makes it better. I think he has been an integral part of the wellness of the staff and our community.”

While Sean can recount numerous instances where Cooper made a significant difference, one moment stands out. As Sean and Cooper were heading home for the day, they encountered a coworker who was typically closed off about his feelings and personal life. As the coworker began to pet Cooper, he became emotional and opened up to Sean about his PTSD and the feelings of guilt he faced every day. Thanks to Cooper’s presence, Sean was able to connect with his colleague on a deep, personal level in a way they had never had before. Reflecting on the experience, Sean said, “We helped him that day, and it brought me goosebumps, truly.”

Not only are Sean and Cooper heroes within their own office, but they’re also everyday game changers in the Isanti County community. Due to the nature of the situations Sean and Cooper respond to, they often meet people on some of the worst days of their lives. For many, the comfort of spending time with Cooper and having Sean there to listen provides them with a moment of much-needed peace. “To just give these individuals a moment to smile is so rewarding. Sometimes we don’t even know the amount of impact we have. I always believed in the power of these dogs before, but once you really see it, it’s amazing,” says Sean.

After addressing a call, Sean always brings Cooper along for follow-ups. He notes that while not everyone may be ready to ask for help or engage with Cooper right away, many individuals become more receptive after a few days, recognizing him as a resource in their community. Says Sean, “Everyone is looking for that bridge between law enforcement and the community. Having a therapy dog builds that bridge and trust between the two. Once that’s established, we can achieve a lot more and make a big impact. Cooper and I are there to help, and people know that more with him there.”

Additionally, Cooper brings comfort to people during investigative interviews and supports victims before and after they testify in court. Sean aspires to eventually have Cooper present in the courtroom during testimony, offering an additional layer of security to victims as they recount their traumatic experiences.

While Cooper makes a difference in the lives of others every day, he also plays a significant role in Sean’s wellbeing. “I have a lot of hard weeks, and it can be exhausting to continuously put all my emotions aside. Cooper allows those feelings to come out when we’re alone,” says Sean. “He helps me cope at work and at home and makes me feel better. He’s a great pal.”

Passionate about their work, Sean is committed to making a deeper impact in the office and in the community with Cooper by his side. He also hopes to inspire other law enforcement agencies to integrate professional therapy dogs into their operations knowing the profound difference it makes in many lives. As Sean explains, “When people ask me why FSD, I show them the differences in the training. If other officers want to implement a dog who can go to calls and sit with victims of violence and tragedy for hours, they need to be able to multi-task with a highly trained dog. FSD trains their dogs to incorporate a variety of tasks so that they can be more impactful. I’m very thankful for all the things FSD has done for me and everyone who helped make this happen. I couldn’t be more happy or grateful!”

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Are you a first responder or other mental health professional interested in being partnered with an FSD Professional Therapy Dog? If so, please contact Shelby Cramer at [email protected] or call 303-922-6231 for more information.

Published 8/30/2024