K9 to 5

Hope

Therapy Dog, Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation

At Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation, hope comes in many different forms – including that of a spunky, tripod French bulldog named, you guessed it, Hope. As the hospital’s newest therapy dog, Hope inspires patients who are relearning how to perform daily physical tasks – such as standing, walking, or driving – with her own rehabilitation story.

Before joining the Siskin Hospital team, a nonprofit in Nashville rescued Hope after she was discovered by the side of the road with a severe injury. Though Hope’s back right leg had to be amputated, Kait Fletcher, Siskin’s marketing and communications specialist, says the canine’s passion for life never faltered.    

“Hope is very resilient,” she says. “Between her accident, surgeries, foster care, and now her new home with Siskin Hospital, she has never lost her loving spirit. She truly lives up to her name and gives both our patients and staff hope every day.”

For the past four months, Hope has been adjusting and meeting her Human-Animal Bond in Tennessee (HABIT) certification requirements – starting out in-office at least once a week. She will soon build up to two days and so on, with the ultimate goal of having her interact with patients five days a week.

From meeting and greeting patients as they walk through the halls to cuddling with them or providing emotional support during their therapy, Hope is eager to show affection – sometimes a little too much.

“Since Hope is still recovering from her amputation and growing in her role as a therapy dog, she doesn’t always know her limits and can get overly tired,” Fletcher explains. “For this reason, Amber Hardin and her other handlers keep close watch and step in when it’s time to take a break. Even on her breaks, she still has a hard time realizing it’s okay to rest because she wants to keep meeting and loving on all of the people.”

When Hope’s “on break” sign is up and she resides in her shared office with Hardin – COTA/L, inpatient ocupational therapy supervisor – the Frenchie enjoys diet-approved treats, playing with her puzzle enrichment toys, and power naps. At home, she never leaves Hardin’s side – except when she’s curious about what’s on the other side of the front door. Outside, Hope loves to go on hikes, doggie-cart-assisted bike rides, and road trips with her favorite humans. 

No matter the activity, the canine’s sounds of approval can always be heard. “As a Frenchie/bulldog mix, she has many different noises and sound effects. You never know what sound she is going to make next!” Fletcher laughs.

Jäger

K9 Officer, Bradley County Sherriff’s Office

For K9 Officer Jäger, a day on duty with Deputy Will Carder at the Bradley County Sherriff’s Office (BCSO) is never boring. One minute he’s supervising Carder’s paperwork (from the comfort of the station floor) and the next he’s nose-down, tracking a scent trail with laser-sharp focus.

“I’m Jäger’s second handler,” Carder says. “He was 3 years old when I was partnered with him. Being on a patrol shift, you never know what the day is going to hold. Training and working with one of these K9s requires them to have trust in you as their handler, as well as for you to trust them completely. So, building a relationship with Jäger and getting to know his personality and tells have been rewarding.”   

The Dutch shepherd is certified annually through the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association (NNDDA) and frequently performs on-duty training with Carder. In the beginning, Carder admits that it wasn’t always easy to trust Jäger’s instincts.

“Several years ago, I put him down for a track,” he recalls. “After a few minutes, we came upon a large area of thick brush. Jäger kept pacing back and forth and wouldn’t quit. Being a new handler, I thought he wasn’t on the right track or was after something else. But, no matter what I did, he wouldn’t let me pull him off of it. After another minute or two, Jäger’s determination to do what he was trained to do prevailed, and I saw what he was smelling. In the end, I learned to simply hold the leash and trust that he knows what he’s doing and where he’s going.”

For nearly six years, Jäger’s powerful nose has helped to keep the streets of Bradley County safe. According to Carder, it’s important for the community to know how to support K9 officers.

“Community awareness and cooperation go a long way in supporting our K9 partners,” he says. “Staying engaged with BCSO; attending community events; following updates on social media; helping share accurate information about the work the K9s do; and, when you see a K-9 team working in the field, giving them space and allowing them to focus on the tasks at hand are a huge help.”

From claiming the passenger seat to having his own room at Carder’s house, Jäger loves doing life with his humans.

“It really is like getting to go to work with your best friend every day,” Carder finishes. “It’s funny how I’ll find myself having full-blown conversations with him while we’re just riding around on patrol.”

Phantom

Service Dog and WFSD Mentor, Warrior Freedom Service Dogs

Photos by Kristina Armstrong

It’s been said, “pets remind us that love is the greatest healer,” and Phantom’s connection with retired veteran Eric Dudash as his service dog is no exception. In fact, the two travel around the U.S. as part of Warrior Freedom Service Dogs (WFSD), sharing their story.

“Phantom saved my life,” Dudash explains. “After 30 years on active duty, I knew I needed help when things got ‘quiet.’ Contacting Warrior Freedom, I got started in the program and met many service dogs, including Phantom. After many walks with all the dogs, Phantom and I had a moment. It was after a long night of night terrors, and we were paired to walk the next morning.”

“We were walking in the woods and I stopped,” he continues. “I can’t remember why I stopped, but Phantom placed his right paw on my left foot and nudged my knee with his nose. Thinking he was still young, I didn’t take note, but we walked a few more steps and he did it again. After he repeated this about four times, I started crying. I knew then that he sensed what
I was going through. Paw on my left foot, looking straight into my eyes, he told me in his own way, ‘I have your six.’ He chose me, and it’s a moment I will never forget.”

And Phantom hasn’t stopped caring for Dudash since. From crowded streets to when all eyes are on them at a conference or in a classroom, Phantom is reading and responding to his handler’s various cues.

As a WFSD mentor, Phantom, alongside Eric, helps to provide comfort for other veterans when they’re at events. The two have even lobbied for service dog rights. According to Dudash, sometimes there are misconceptions about Phantom’s duties.

“Unfortunately, there are a lot of emotional support dogs that have service dog vests purchased for them through various means,” he explains. “Because they’re not professionally trained like Phantom, this hurts individuals who need a service dog for medical reasons. There’s a major difference between emotional support dogs and service dogs, so being able to talk to folks and explain and be transparent about how Phantom provides service is really meaningful.” 

Though a fully trained service dog, Phantom is admittedly less regal when his service vest comes off – turning into a “German shepherd Marmaduke.” Whether snuggling with “wobbie” (his age-old puppy toy), riding sidecar with Dudash in parades, jumping in every pond imaginable, or pouting when Dudash goes on solo kayak trips, Phantom is an “absolute ham” for life and his family.

Jo, Zeus, & Odin

Sheep Herder and Chicken Guard Dogs, Sequatchie Cove Farm

When asked if Jo, Zeus, and Odin are part of the Sequatchie Cove Farm’s pack or flock, the farm owner Kelsey Keener’s answer is simply, “both.” As a part-time sheep herder and full-time chicken guard dogs, they help to protect the farm’s wooly and feathery flocks.

The 2-year-old border collie, Jo, is extremely focused, confident, and intense while on the clock with her handler and owner, Mattie Sienknecht. Throughout the day, Jo helps to herd sheep from field to field, onto a trailer, or into a pen for necessary checkups and inspections.

“It’s been amazing to see her mature throughout the year and a half that I’ve had her,” says Sienknecht. “We have so many great days in the field where she consistently listens and gets the job done perfectly.”

Following herding commands like “stay,” “come by,” or “away,” Jo listens so well that it’s almost like she can read Sienknecht’s mind, even when given the “that’ll do” command at the end of the day and she switches to her goofy, fun-loving self at home.

“I’m surprised at how different my bond with Jo feels compared to bonds that I’ve had with other dogs in my life,” Sienknecht explains. “Because we have to work together to get the sheep where they need to go, anticipating each other’s thoughts and movements, it feels like I always know what she’s thinking and like she always knows what I’m thinking – both on and off the farm.”

Jo’s workday may be over when the sheep have been herded, but the Great Pyrenees brothers, Zeus and Odin, live on the farm to patrol for predators – most commonly coyotes. 

“These boys work around the clock, 24/7,” Keener says. “Nighttime is when they are most actively working because that is when many of the predators think they can sneak into the chicken pens. During the day, they rest a lot but are still on call if any strange noises or commotion arise.”

Though Zeus and Odin are large enough to fend off the predators, Keener says they still have a lot of learning – and growing – to do, seeing as they are merely 6 months old. “They can be goofy and playful at times, but they are hardworking.”

The two are inseparable, constantly seen side by side or playfully chewing on each other in true puppy fashion. When Keener and the crew head out to work the livestock, Zeus and Odin are quick to welcome them with wagging tails and warm, honey-colored eyes that adore their people.

Gunny

K9 Ambassador, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) Police & Public Safety

Donning his police badge and UTC T-shirt every morning, ambassador Gunny  –  or “Chief K9” as he has been designated – represents the university on behalf of UTC Police & Public Safety.

According to Sean O’Brien, associate vice chancellor for UTC Public Safety and chief of UTC Police, Gunny acts as a gateway for the department to create relationships and have meaningful interactions with students.

“Students can be a bit hesitant toward the uniform,” O’Brien says. “But that’s where Gunny comes in. Students love interacting with him, and I can’t tell you how many conversations I have a day now because they ask to pet and interact with him. The UTC Police & Public Safety Department is dedicated to student, staff, and overall campus safety, and Gunny has helped us to connect with everyone on a personal level and ultimately build trust.”

No matter if he’s interacting with public safety staff in office or UTC staff and students on campus, Gunny doesn’t go anywhere without his stuffed animal, or “pacifier,” as O’Brien calls it. Nor does he know the difference between work time and chill time – meaning the canine is always excited and ready to lean into a challenge. “Or whomever may be petting him,” O’Brien laughs.

Before experiencing campus life, Gunny was paired with O’Brien at the Vapor Wake K9 training program when he was 15 months old. Training together for seven weeks, Gunny was officially certified as a detection dog in 2021, and he and O’Brien were deployed into the field. There, he helped the Chattanooga Police Department sniff out potential risks and hazards for nearly three years before retiring.

In the end, O’Brien says Gunny’s experiences in the field are what allowed him to become UTC’s K9 ambassador and ultimately pave the way for Sergeant Sophie – UTC’s first K9 officer and therapy dog.   

“K9 Gunny has helped UTC Police & Public Safety connect with our campus community in amazing ways,” he says. “His service as an ambassador and the response we received from campus partners led to UTC Police acquiring a therapy K9 named Sergeant Sophie! She just deployed on campus late in the fall semester of 2025. Forging these relationships is critical to our mission of serving the campus, and I am indebted to Gunny’s role in helping that come to fruition.”

With Sergeant Sophie now helping to protect the campus, Gunny will continue as the K9 Ambassador and serve in the same manner he always has – with a wagging tail and a heart the size of UTC’s campus.