Meet Penny: Our Therapy Doodle

I am passionate about mental health and wellness, and I believe that dogs have a special ability to bring out the best in humans. In 2023, Officer Marissa Vomer from the Utica police department reached out to me about the possibility of getting a therapy dog. I immediately knew that I wanted to support this project. The Utica police department already had a Crisis Response Team consisting of a police officer trained in mental health and a crisis counselor from the Neighborhood Center's Mobile Crisis Assessment Team. Marissa wanted to enhance their efforts by adding a canine member to the team. Finger Lakes Doodles donated an F1 Standard Sheepadoodle puppy named Penny in the summer of 2023 to help bring Marissa's dream to life. Additionally, First Source Federal Credit Union made a $20,000 donation over three years to cover Penny's training, care, and equipment. Today, Penny is serving the community of Utica and providing assistance to people in a way that humans simply cannot. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this incredible journey. It's truly remarkable what positive change we can achieve when we collaborate with like-minded individuals and organizations.