A group of furry and four-legged heroes who responded to the fatal stabbing of a student at Jonathan Law High School in Milford in April were honored on July 7 by school officials, the Mayor of Milford and Connecticut state legislators.

 Representing Pet Partners, therapy dogs Spartacus, Cooper, Muffin, Socrates and Dascha - along with their handlers - coordinated the efforts of 55 therapy dog teams. These therapy dogs comforted the students and staff at Jonathan Law for 10 days in the aftermath of the April 25 stabbing of Maren Sanchez, a popular junior who attended the school. Many of these teams also responded to the December 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Newtown Kindness, founded and named in memory of six-year-old Sandy Hook victim Charlotte Bacon, supported and facilitated the K9 First Responder presence at Law. Charlotte loved animals and Charlotte’s Litter, named in her memory, advocates the use of therapy dogs in all schools.  

According to one K9 First Responder, “The dogs who have been evaluated and have the characteristics to be part of a crisis response team have intrinsic qualities that can’t be trained. They just know what each person needs and how to deliver it. The effect on the people they interact with is powerful.”  

For more information on therapy dogs, visit PetPartners.org or visit K9 First Responders on Facebook.