As Scout languished in an animal shelter, little did she know she would get a loving home and a job.
Taylor Panczer, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas Wellness and Student Advocate Service Coordinator at the Bryant Student Health Center, stopped by the Joplin Humane Society in honor of her grandfather’s death anniversary and to bring joy to the sad day.
“Scout was the only one not barking (ironic because that’s how she gets your attention now) and she was this sweet little pup in her kennel,” Taylor says. “I went up to her and she gently moved toward my hand and licked it. I left and couldn’t stop thinking about her all week. Finally, I called them back and she was still there! So, I drove right there, and I adopted her.”
Soon enough, Taylor noticed something extra special about Scout.
“Scout helped me when I was experiencing high anxiety through my mother’s stage 3 cancer diagnosis,” Taylor says. “She knew exactly when I needed her and was even able to alert me when my anxiety was spiking.”
That’s when she decided to get Scout formally trained to be a therapy dog. Her specialty is helping those with anxiety. She is good at sensing people experiencing higher levels of anxiety and going towards them.
“It is cool to watch the body language of the person Scout is engaging with switch from really tense to relaxed,” Taylor says. “You can watch the anxiety and stress melt away from them.”
Therapy dogs provide comfort, support, and companionship to individuals. They help improve emotional well-being, reduce stress, and promote a positive environment. Unlike service dogs that are trained to perform specific tasks for people with disabilities, therapy dogs are trained to offer emotional support through their friendly, gentle, and calming presence.
Scout went through individual and group obedience training with Pack Savvy Training. “She and I then went through rigorous hands-on training specialized for public access behaviors and commands,” Taylor says. On Sept. 18, Scout passed her Public Access Test, which allows her to provide therapeutic services in public areas such as schools, nursing homes, hospitals, and other areas that allow therapy dogs.
Scout now works alongside Taylor at the Bryant Student Health Center. Scout’s main objective is to provide therapeutic relief for those experiencing stress, anxiety, or depression. She walks around campus with Taylor and connects with the students who wish to interact with her. She is “paged” in the clinic for students who might be anxious or nervous about getting their blood drawn, test results, or procedures. Scout is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with some surprise hours throughout the week if Taylor’s schedule allows.
“One of the coolest things I get to see as Scout’s handler is the excitement and love I feel when Scout enters the room,” Taylor says. “The students love seeing her and call out for her across the oval, and Scout loves it just as much. Her tail wags a mile a minute when she sees a familiar face, or the student calls for her.”