There’s a new therapy dog on the Illinois State University campus, and it’s owned by the police department [ISU PD].
Pawfficer Korg is about 2 years old and Sgt. Mike Gardner said he’s continuing the legacy of his predecessor — Sage — in helping the department connect with students and the greater Bloomington-Normal community.
Sage retired in October and died shortly after. In total, she provided around five years of service, which Gardner said has been critical. While the program’s impact is immeasurable, Gardner said he and others at ISU PD know having a trained stress-relieving dog is important.
He drew a comparison between the program and police patrolling in their vehicles.
“It's a crime deterrent, but we don't really know how many crimes we're stopping by driving in circles, right?” Gardner told WGLT at a campus welcome event Friday for Korg. “And that's how it is with this program. I have seen, personally, people have a change in their temperament, have a change in their stress because of the interaction with the dog.”
Therapy dogs with ISU PD do not respond to crimes. Korg is the second dog in ISU PD’s therapy dog program, which started in 2019, and at that time was the only one like it in the state. Since then, Gardner said he knows ISU PD has helped at least a dozen other campus police start their own therapy dog programs.
“I think that is an extension of our footprint to say others departments saw what we were doing and said we need to be doing something like that,” he said.
A primary goal of the therapy dog program is to make police more accessible and approachable. Gardner said having a dog makes it easier to connect with people who would not normally approach an officer, and it has happened more frequently since the program started.
“They'll come up and talk to the dog and greet the dog, and sometimes they don't even say hi to me, but it's up to me, once they're there, you know, to engage them and ask them how they're doing, how class is going, how they're adjusting to the campus,” Gardner said.
Having a pawfficer has also helped more subtly, Gardner added, such as with social media. He said people have started following the police department because they will post pictures of Sage — and now Korg — and share events where the dogs would be. So when important information goes out, Gardner said “we have the audience.”
Officers also benefit. Besides the fact that dogs are known to improve health, Gardner said Sage was known to provide much-needed destressing. Any officer can take Korg for a walk or out to play fetch after a tough dispatch call or during a rough week. Gardner said he's done it himself.
"I could go out for four hours if I wanted to, and that's my job and it also helps me," he said.
Gardner said students have many reasons to visit the dog, and one of them is just to say hi when they are missing their pets at home.
Dana Fanizza, an ISU senior, said that is why she visited Sage. She said she frequently sought out the therapy dog and plans to do the same with Korg.
“I love being able to go to the police station and, you know, hang out with the dog and just feel comfortable,” she said. “Having time with an animal, it's awesome.”
ISU junior Chloe Yost said she felt lonely during Sage’s absence, even though the school found Korg quickly. Yost added that she’s all for having a dog on campus and she sees a particular benefit to a police-owned therapy dog.
“I think it just shows that the police does care about our students, and they are here for us,” she said.
ISU freshman Bella Juarez said having an ISU PD therapy dog on campus makes her feel safer — even if she’s just getting some company while studying at the library. Plus, Korg is so cute.
The 2-year-old pup came to campus in March and Gardner said the trainers in southern Illinois named him after a Marvel character known for his intimidating yet easy-going personality. So far, Gardner said he is living up to his namesake.
“This dog's not intimidating at all, but just a really easygoing personality and loves to reach out and understand what someone else is going through,” Gardner said.
Hopefully, Gardner said, Korg will live a long and healthy life, but ISU PD is thinking of the program even beyond his lifetime.
“Probably after Korg retires, we'll get another one, and we'll just keep going, because it's so important, not just for our department and not just for our students, but for our entire community,” Gardner said.
