'Rocket' shoots for national award
John McSwain, chaplain with the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, chats with guests during the Coeur d'Alene Regional Chamber's recent Upbeat Breakfast at The Coeur d'Alene Resort while Rocket the therapy dog rests next to him.
BILL BULEY/Press
COEUR d’ALENE — The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office therapy dog, Rocket, has been nominated for the First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award, in an annual contest hosted by the national behavioral health provider, FHE Health.
Voting will open to the public from Nov. 25 through Dec. 4. The winning dog and handler will receive $2,000 and other prizes.
Rocket works with the KCSO, serving first responders in North Idaho, as well as the surrounding community.
He is certified through 1st Responder Therapy Dogs and a member of the Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit and Peer Support Team, providing emotional support to staff, a press release said.
Rocket joined the agency after his handler, a chaplain and the manager of the agency’s Peer Support Team, asked if they could get a therapy dog.
"Since then, Rocket has come alongside hundreds of deputies, firefighters and veterans after violent and tragic incidents; and he has sat with staff and families in the hospital and visited area schools, hospice facilities and veterans’ homes," the release said.
Rocket is AKC-registered as “Sir Rocket the Kindhearted.”
To vote for Rocket: fherehab.com/first-responder-paws-award.