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Zoe is a seven-month-old golden retriever whose job is to support the campus community socially and emotionally. To get Zoe, the department received a scholarship with K9 Responder Academy, run by Rick Dunton, which is based in Charlotte. The scholarship provides a state public safety agency with a therapy dog that is fully trained by the academy at no cost to the organization that receives the dog.

“I heard that 97ɫ�� Police Department received a dog through K9 Responder Academy along with AKC so I started working on the required paperwork for the scholarship.  I submitted it and here we are — or should I say here Zoe is,” said Jamaal Walker, 97ɫ�� chief/director of police and public safety.

Zoe received early training at K9 Responder Academy and will continue to learn as she acclimates to the 97ɫ�� campus and its students.

“Zoe is getting more comfortable each day in her role at 97ɫ��,” Walker said. “She is obedient, relaxed and approachable.”

Zoe’s job is to help address mental health and wellness issues on campus. Zoe will interact with students and employees and provide support for students, faculty and staff during challenging times. She can help calm situations where people may be feeling stressed.

“Post Covid we had a lot more mental health calls,” Walker said. “As 97ɫ�� officers, we all have CIT [cross intervention training], but Zoe’s job is to hopefully help lessen these things before they get bad.”

Unlike many other types of service dogs where interactions with anyone but their owner is discouraged, people are encouraged to get to know Zoe and to feel free to pet her when they see her.

“Just recently as Zoe and I were walking around campus, a student came up and asked to pet Zoe,” Walker said. “When the student got up from petting Zoe, he sighed a sigh of relief and said, ‘I really needed that.’ This is the role of Zoe and why she is so key to 97ɫ��.”

As her handler, Walker has Zoe with him 24 hours a day.  

“At the end of the day she goes home with me,” Walker said. “I have another dog at home and the two already get along famously. We all go to dog-friendly stores to keep her social and to get her out and about at other places besides 97ɫ��.”

Walker is aware of those who are not dog people and those with allergies.  

“I let students and staff approach Zoe on their terms,” Walker said. “She is here to help, not to cause anxiety of any kind. For those who approach her it has been nothing but positive feedback. I have had students and staff sit down on the floor to interact with her.”

A month in from Zoe’s introduction to 97ɫ�� and Walker has nothing but high praise for her and the work she does.

“She is just the type of dog needed for these programs,” said Walker. “She seems to know, even as a young dog, what students need. She never pushes and she is always up for being petted and loved on.”