Photos by Chad Riley
Some jobs call for specialists with four paws and can-do attitudes. Eager and versatile, working dogs can be trained to perform a variety of tasks across a broad spectrum. They can use their exceptional hearing to alert handlers of environmental dangers, their acute sense of smell to detect medical events and track scents, their body weight to calm panic attacks and their gentle demeanors to comfort patients in hospitals. These amazing animals have the ability to transform lives with their remarkable talents and boundless enthusiasm, proving that the bond between humans and dogs can accomplish extraordinary things. Meet five career-driven canines and learn about the incredible ways they are uplifting people in their communities.
JOSIE
Herding Dog
Josie the Australian Shepherd works until the cows come home. It’s her job to get them there, after all. J.T. Thomas’s livestock sometimes need a little guidance, and she is all too happy to take the reins. Whether the cows need to be driven away from a fence or moved to a new pasture, Josie is up for the challenge.
Thomas and Josie have been coworkers for just over nine years. She was a little young when she began her career, but herding cattle came naturally to her. “I basically got Josie the day she opened her eyes, and I started taking her out to the pasture with me for training when she was really young,” says Thomas. “She stayed in the truck for the first few months so she’d be safe while she got used to everything that goes on in the pasture. It was about six months before I let her get to work, but she was ready to get out there way before that. It’s in her blood.”
Australian Shepherds are highly intelligent animals that have been bred with natural herding instincts, making them the ultimate livestock dogs. “Josie would be heartbroken if she didn’t get to come out here and do this — be out in the field,” says Thomas. “When we’re not working cows, it’s a lot more strenuous on her. She needs something to do or she’ll just pace in the house. But she has a relationship with the cows, too. She keeps them in line, but the cows know her and that she protects their babies. If they see another dog or a coyote, they know it from a mile away. But they’re curious about Josie. They’ll come close to her and check her out.”
Thomas knows that rest and snacks are essential for Josie’s healthy work-life balance. “I try not to pamper her too much, but I know she’s spoiled. I have to give her a little bit of everything I have to eat, and she just lays out when we get home from the pasture,” he says. “But with all the stuff she does out there, she deserves it. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
MILLIE
Ambassador Dog
Millie is a career girl who knows how to command a room. Everyone’s eyes are trained on her when she walks into the workplace. She sits at the front of the room next to her partner while he gives a presentation — he’s a bit more eloquent than she is. After the lecture, everyone rushes to shake her hand. It’s been a long day on the job, but somebody has to do it. She knows how important it is for people to be informed about highway work zone safety.
Millie is an ambassador dog who teaches children about the dangers of distracted driving. Millie’s handler, Morris King, realized her potential for public service years before began her advocacy career. “For the first three years I had Millie, nothing like the work we do now was on my radar,” says King. “She was a hunting retriever champion first, but I saw how good she was with people and thought to myself ‘I can do more with this.’ People in work zones are hit by cars every year by people not paying attention to the road. I decided to start taking Millie into schools to teach kids about the dangers of texting and driving. If I were just sitting there talking to them, it wouldn’t have the same impact as it does with Millie. They pay attention when she’s up there with me.”
When she’s not spreading awareness about safe driving habits, Millie is working her second job as a therapy dog at USA Health University Hospital. “Millie trained for a few months to get certified as a therapy dog at a complex level, which means we can work in high-activity settings,” says King. “The patients absolutely love seeing Millie. You know, the doctors and nurses are treating patients with their medicine, but Millie is treating them with medicine too. It’s just a different type. People feel better when she’s around.”
Millie is a superhero on and off the road, and she has the working dog capes to prove it. Whether she’s teaching children about road safety or comforting hospital patients, this ambassador and therapy dog spreads joy wherever she goes. King hopes that Millie’s work will uplift and inspire others. “There’s one thing I always like to say to the people we meet,” he says. “If this little dog can do all she does, what can you do?”
HUNTER
Police K9
Doggedness takes form in police K-9 Hunter. The Belgian Malinois is perpetually vigilant and poised for action. He knows that crime never sleeps, but neither does justice. It’s his duty to protect and serve the people of Mobile, and he embraces his role with relentless determination.
The Mobile Sheriff’s Department recognized that his eagerness and keen intuition made him well-suited for multiple tasks. “Hunter’s what we call a ‘dual purpose’ dog for apprehension and narcotics detection,” says handler Deputy Jonathan Rivers. “If a suspect barricades himself in a confined space and we can’t get in there, he brings them to us. He’s a tool we utilize to make it as safe as possible. As far as the detection goes, I’ve said his nose is worth a million dollars — I should say priceless — because he’s so good at it. He’s a great asset for us.”
Hunter and Rivers have a storied partnership that almost has them melded into a single being. “When you’re in certain high-intensity situations with your dog, they can feel what you’re going through,” says Rivers. “Hunter can feel my heartbeat and every motion I make. He definitely feeds off my energy. My four-legged partner gives me an advantage and a safety net when I need to get back out there.”
The connection between Hunter and Rivers is deeply intimate — one only they can share. “Hunter’s sole purpose is to protect his handler,” Rivers says. “He’s going to accomplish his mission, and that may look like a sign of aggression. People will ask to pet him, and I have to tell them no. I just want people to understand that not all dogs are the same, and he’s going to act based on instinct with other people who come up to him. It’s nothing bad. He’s just doing his job.”
Hunter’s legacy will last in perpetuity, his torch being carried on by his successors. “I didn’t know that I wanted to work with dogs when I came into the Sheriff’s office,” says Rivers. “Now I definitely plan on working with K9s after he retires. I will say, though, I didn’t know a lot when I first became a K9 handler. Hunter’s taught me more than I’ve taught him. He’s made me the handler I am today.”
ESTIE
ESD Detection K9
Everyone wants to be Estie’s bestie, and it’s easy to see why. Who wouldn’t fall in love with a gentle, floppy-eared Goldador with a tender smile and a vest that says “Pet Me?” Her playful spirit and affectionate nature are irresistibly charming, but the best thing to love about Estie is her nose. It’s her secret weapon in keeping the children of Mobile safe.
When it comes to working dogs, Estie is a rare breed. She and Sergeant Laura Grantham are one of four Electronic Storage Device Detection K9 teams in Alabama certified to search for concealed electronic storage devices at crime scenes. “Estie is trained to find devices with circuit boards, which are manufactured with a chemical called triphenylphosphine oxide. That’s the vapor she’s imprinted on,” says Grantham. “She can’t smell data, but she can find things like concealed flash drives that might have evidence of harmful activities targeting children on them. It’s amazing the places she’s found them, like in drop ceilings, boxes overflowing with stuff and behind outlet plates. We’ve probably been on 22 search warrants together where she’s found something that was missed, disguised or hidden.”
Estie has the pleasure of spending quality time with the children she protects as well. “Estie’s been cross trained as a comfort dog for child abuse victims, so she’s able to calm someone who really needs her,” says Grantham. “I also take her with me when I go to talk as a digital forensic examiner at places like schools, churches and Cub Scout meetings. For eight years, I’ve been going to talk to kids about online safety, and it used to be like they were listening to Charlie Brown’s teacher talk. But now I have her, and I can hold their attention because they’re waiting to pet her. I take tools with me like coloring activity books and these plastic chips with her face on them, and I get them to sign the ‘Estie’s Besties Online Safety Pledge’ saying that they’ll be careful when they go online. She loves doing it. We both do.”
Estie is a furry, golden beam of light to those who need her most. Whether she’s helping Grantham uncover criminal activity, comforting victims, or educating children about online safety, her presence brings joy to countless lives. “People are seeing the importance of the work we do,” says Grantham. “Estie finds evidence that helps investigators put criminals in prison. She’s a working dog and a comfort dog and an ambassador dog. She works to protect children. It’s her mission.”
SAINT
Service Dog
Saint is a caring canine who lives up to his name. This dapper Standard Poodle spent a year honing his skills to ensure his best friend’s safety and help him navigate life with disabilities. For Carter Cox, Saint has become an indispensable guardian, companion and family member.
Every service dog is trained to perform unique tasks to make their owner’s life a little easier. Some dogs alert and respond to seizures, use their body weight to alleviate anxiety and stress or track their person if they unexpectedly leave the house. Saint does all three. “Carter has a condition called Phelan-McDermid Syndrome, which causes him some health and speech challenges,” says Carter’s mom Erica. “He has epilepsy and a chronic cough, he can be restless when he sleeps and he sometimes tries to wander away from the house without us. Saint has been such a relief to all of us because we know Saint will let us know if something were to happen.”
Saint brought a newfound sense of peace to the Cox household, and his dedication to his duties endures even when they leave home. “Saint goes to school with Carter and lays across his lap in the classroom,” Erica says. “We’re not going to get a babysitter for Carter when we go out. He’s coming with us. We go to restaurants and fly on planes and go to Disney World. Saint has just made it easier for us. People see Saint and are kinder and more accepting of us, and having him around has made Carter a happier guy.”.
For the Coxes, Saint has been a godsend. “I would tell anyone in a similar situation that, if they’re scared to take on something like this, do it,” Erica says. “If I could go back in time, I would have gotten a service dog sooner. Carter and Saint make a great pair. Saint prances when he gets to put on the vest and work, and Carter is calmer with Saint around. That in and of itself is enough.”
Know your Work
Dogs of all shapes, sizes and breeds can offer vital comfort and support to people with disabilities and conditions.
Emotional Support Dogs:
Emotional support dogs are wonderful companions that can help calm anxiety and diminish depression symptoms. They are distinguished from service dogs because, while they do alleviate some conditions and disorders, they do not perform tasks directly related to a disability. They can be invaluable partners that provide comfort to their owners, but they are not protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act and are not guaranteed access to public spaces that prohibit animals.
Service Dogs:
Service dogs are incredible caretakers that perform tasks to help mitigate challenges and symptoms associated with disabilities. Many people are familiar with guide dogs and mobility assistance dogs, but they can also be trained to help with invisible disabilities like diabetes, epilepsy, PTSD and autism spectrum disorder. They must perform tasks directly related to a person’s disability and are recognized as necessary medical devices like oxygen tanks and wheelchairs. Service dogs are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act and are permitted in public spaces that prohibit pets.
Facility Dogs:
Facility dogs, sometimes referred to as therapy dogs, are amazing caregivers that support and calm people experiencing physical or emotional distress in a variety of environments. Facility dogs can be used to encourage hospital patients, uplift nursing home residents, reassure anxious students in schools and soothe distressed children in courtrooms. Facility dogs are not protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act, but they are sometimes permitted to enter animal-prohibitive facilities where they’ve been invited to work.
