Paws on duty: Rookie joins Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office
This eight-month-old Goldendoodle joins a rising trend in western North Carolina, where therapy dogs are emerging as essential partners in law enforcement and community support.
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RUTHERFORDTON, N.C. — At just eight months old, Rookie—a playful doodle pup from Silver Creek Doodles—is now the newest asset of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, police said. But Rookie isn’t here to chase bad guys; he’s here to offer something more profound: comfort, compassion, and connection. Thanks to a $6,500 training grant from Stand T.A.L.L. (“Thank A Local Lawman”), Rookie has completed specialized therapy-canine training and started his service across schools, courtrooms, rest homes, critical incident scenes, and more. His mission: to support community members and law enforcement by offering calm companionship during emotionally charged moments.
But Rookie’s value goes beyond a cute face—he represents a growing trend across western North Carolina: the expanding recognition of therapy and facility dogs as trusted collaborators in law enforcement and community wellness.
The growing role of therapy dogs in Western North Carolina
Therapy dogs in law enforcement aren’t new to the region, but they’re new to Rutherford County. In Asheville, Kora—a 3‑year‑old Goldendoodle—has become one of the most recognizable faces on the Asheville Police Department. Equipped with a blue‑light decorated cart and the official title “Officer Kora,” she’s not your typical K‑9.
Instead of tracking suspects or sniffing for narcotics, Kora engages in what’s called “paw‑trolling”: strolling downtown, visiting schools, and providing comfort during domestic violence interviews. She even participates in court proceedings to reassure children and other vulnerable testimony providers. A multidisciplinary indicator of her success came in December 2024, when she was named the national First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award winner. Her handler, Officer Debbie LeCroy, often brings her to trauma‑informed debriefings following major incidents—missing persons cases, child fatalities, and officer-involved crises.
Down the mountain, university campuses are also recognizing this benefit. At Western Carolina University, Sergeant Tammy Pavey and Sasha the chocolate lab completed cross-training to support victims of assault and courtroom testimonies, adding intimacy and calm to what can be overwhelming situations. Meanwhile, the Kannapolis Police Department welcomed Millie, a Bernedoodle, to support officers following traumatic events and to help during public outreach and community gatherings.
These deployments reflect a broader pattern: WNC agencies are adopting therapy and facility dogs to serve two critical but often overlooked roles—reducing stress among first responders and enhancing victims’ experiences within the justice system.
Why Therapy Dogs Matter in Law Enforcement
Stress relief for officers and responders
Policing and first response are inherently stressful. According to studies, interaction with therapy dogs—truly just a brief 15‑minute session—can reduce cortisol (the stress hormone) by up to 20%, while boosting oxytocin, a hormone known for promoting bonding and emotional ease. In the law enforcement context, these interactions translate to increased emotional resilience, better mental health, and more openness to seek help during crises.Enhancing community relations
Therapy dogs serve as bridges across fear and mistrust. Kora’s downtown paw‑trolling softens citizens’ interactions with law enforcement, making officers more approachable. Rookie will follow in these paws, bringing comfort in schools and public spaces—a gentle reminder that law enforcement is here to listen, support, and nurture trust.Supporting victims and witnesses, especially children
The presence of therapy or facility dogs in courtrooms and interviews has gained acceptance. In Washington state, court rulings upheld that allowing dogs during testimony doesn't bias juries, as long as jurors are cautioned appropriately. Organizations like the Courthouse Dogs Foundation promote best practices for integrating facility dogs in trauma‑informed investigations and legal proceedings.Improving post-traumatic recovery
Animal‑assisted therapy (AAT) research demonstrates that interactions with dogs can reduce anxiety, depressive symptoms, and post-traumatic stress indicators across populations—children, sexual assault victims, elderly individuals in care homes, and more. In law enforcement settings, therapy‑dog interventions have been shown to support officers’ mental health, break down stigma around seeking help, and foster a more humane and neglect‑resistant organizational culture.
In essence, therapy dogs serve dual roles—supportive companions during legal or traumatic experiences, and protective co‑workers who buffer the emotional strain of daily exposure to crisis.
Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office and Community Needs
The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office serves approximately 65,000 residents and visitors across 566 square miles. Sheriff Aaron Ellenburg, elected in 2022, heads operations that include patrols, inmate transport, courthouse security, investigative duties, and community safety initiatives.
Challenges like providing trauma‑informed responses to victims, managing officer well‑being, and building public trust have resonated in the region’s law enforcement climate. Agencies have demonstrated that therapy dogs can help meet these needs in a tangible, human-centric way.
Introducing Rookie into this mix gives Rutherford County a timely opportunity to join the movement. With formalized roles—schools, incident scenes, rest homes, courtrooms, and child‑victim services—Rookie is set up for multi‑faceted impact.
Moreover, the donation underscores community-local law enforcement partnerships. The grant covered Rookie’s training—an investment in both emotional infrastructure and skill development. Silver Creek Doodles’ training partner provided the structured preparation (across obedience, “distraction‑proofing,” and social adaptability) that aligns with therapy dog certification standards, according to their website.
What Rookie Will Do—and Why It Matters
School visits
Rookie will visit classrooms to help students feel calm and secure. Research shows that interaction with dogs reduces anxiety, improves mood, and strengthens students' willingness to engage.Critical Incident Response
Following accidents, crimes, or emergencies, Rookie will join law enforcement teams to console first responders and affected citizens. These moments carry high emotional stress; dogs like Kora have proven effective in post-incident debriefs.Rest-home companionship
Elderly populations in care settings benefit from animal interaction, including reduced loneliness, enhanced sociability, and better emotional well-being. Rookie’s visits will offer real, mood-lifting companionship.Victim and witness support
Particularly for children and those coping with trauma, having Rookie present during interviews or court testimony can lower fear and stress, improving the emotional comfort and clarity of witnesses.Courtroom presence
If needed, Rookie may represent a “courthouse facility dog,” trained to remain calm, supportive, and unobtrusive during legal proceedings. Courts across the country have begun to incorporate these dogs to support vulnerable witnesses.Special victim advocacy
In sensitive cases—abuse, child pornography, trafficking—Rookie may accompany detectives, counselors, or advocates, helping to ease tension during interviews and evidence-gathering sessions.
At eight months, Rookie is still a pup in training. As he matures, his temperament and confidence will solidify. His handler (yet to be announced) will likely take him home after hours, consistent with protocols seen in Asheville and state highway patrol programs, where handlers live with their K‑9 partners to maintain rapport and structure.
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Broader Legal and Psychological Context
The use of therapy dogs in law enforcement isn’t just a feel-good policy—it’s grounded in law, psychology, and research.
Legal precedent: Rulings like State v. Dye (Washington, 2013) demonstrate that allowing facility dogs during courtroom testimony is permissible, provided juries receive appropriate instructions.
Organizational support: The Courthouse Dogs Foundation and Assistance Dogs International offer operational guidelines on training, handling, case selection, and integration with legal and investigative procedures.
Human-canine bonding: Dr. Boris Levinson’s 1960s pioneering work in the field laid the foundation for animal-assisted interventions, validated by later research showing significant cortisol reductions, improved mood, and enhanced emotional expressiveness.
Collectively, these frameworks guide law enforcement agencies toward professionally trained, ethically integrated therapy-canine programs—ones designed to support public trust, trauma-informed care, and officer health.
Challenges & Future Considerations
Rookie’s introduction is encouraging, but it also raises practical questions that underscore the need for planning and oversight:
Handler and home arrangements: Will Rookie live with a handler around-the-clock, or remain kenneled at the station? Structured living arrangements foster continuity, obedience, and emotional stability.
Liability and safety: Policies must define where Rookie can go, who can approach him, and how exposure incidents (such as allergies or fear) will be managed.
Funding lifecycle: Stand T.A.L.L.’s grant may cover starter training; ongoing maintenance costs—veterinary care, equipment, handler time—need to be planned and budgeted.
Scheduling and deployment: Clear guidelines on when Rookie is deployed—for critical incidents, court appearances, or daily patrol—will ensure he’s managed effectively and ethically.
Transparency on these considerations will be key for community credibility and internal success. With today’s announcement, it is a first step in that process.
A New Era of Compassionate Policing
At eight months old, Rookie is more than a puppy—he's a symbol: a living bridge between law enforcement and the community, a partner in emotional restoration, and an emblem of compassion-led policy. Through training, structured deployment, and community engagement, he has the potential to contribute meaningfully to Rutherford County’s approach to public safety and emotional safety.
Rookie is launching his journey in a region already forging a path in what some term “compassionate policing.” From Kora in Asheville to Sasha at Western Carolina University, these dogs are gaining acceptance as trusted tools, not to apprehend, but to heal. As Rookie grows, so too will the program around him, including the answers to operational questions, the interactions with victims and officers, and the data on emotional impact.
In embracing Rookie, RCSO joins a growing movement in western NC—one that values empathy, public trust, and mental wellness as pillars of a modern, effective, and humane approach to law enforcement. As he bounds into schools, homes, courtrooms, and even crisis scenes, Rookie reminds us all: sometimes, the best way to serve and protect is with a wagging tail.
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Annie Dance is the publisher of Cops & Congress (& Canines)
Such a proactive idea for out area....Kudos to the chief. Thanks for reporting this.