UNO Welcomes New Four-Legged First Responder

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) community has a new four-legged friend: Officer Ares. The 19-month-old purebred German Shepherd is UNO Police and Public Safety’s first therapy K9, bringing companionship, comfort, and support to campus.

Ares may look like many other police K9’s but instead of confronting people, his main job is to comfort them.

“He's not a drug dog. He's not an apprehension dog. He doesn't smell, like, bombs or anything like that,” said Officer Sean Sommer, Ares’ handler. “His training was specifically for temperament to be in this position as a therapy dog.”

In May, Ares and Officer Sommer traveled to Franklin County, Ohio, where Ares completed specialized advanced training to become certified as a law enforcement therapy dog. The training helped him gain the skills needed to succeed in his role.

“They put him through a lot of rigorous training to desensitize him to first responder stuff, such as loud bangs and fireworks, so that it doesn't affect him,” Sommer said. “That's why he's called a crisis canine, because of his training. He can be in untraditional environments where most therapy dogs wouldn't be able to be in.”

Ares’ six-month pilot program began on May 1 and is the first of its kind at the university. Before the semester started, he spent much of the summer at Nebraska Medicine, where he would walk through the halls, quickly becoming a familiar and welcome presence among patients and staff.

“I'd have nurses 50 feet away shouting his name from down the hall,” Sommer said. “They began to wonder where he was when he wasn’t with me. It's a really positive thing so far down there and that’s what we want it to be here as well.”

At UNO, Ares’ role is similar to his at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). He is there to provide comfort, support, and positive interactions. He is available to assist people experiencing significant challenges, including mental health crises and emotional distress, as well as those smaller everyday ones as well. Those who may be feeling overwhelmed, homesick, or simply having a bad day can benefit from his calm presence. Ares is here to help people feel safe, reassured, and regulated.

At the end of the day, even after all of his extensive training, Ares is still like any other dog who just wants to be loved.

“He's like a walking pillow. He just likes to be petted. He likes to be there for you,” Sommer said. “And when he really gets attached, he'll lean against you and stuff like that.”

As the semester continues, Officer Sommer hopes the UNO community will welcome Ares with open arms, feel comfortable approaching him, and know that he is there to help.

“When we walk around, we want people to know that they can stop and say hi to us, pet him, all those things,” Sommer said.” “If they're ever in a situation where they're upset and could use some help, we want to make sure that they know they can call and we’ll come to do what we can to assist, we are here to help.”

Contact unppsd.dog@unomaha.edu to request a visit from Ares, and follow Ares on Facebook.