When Carmella Aaron took her therapy dog Frankie into the adolescent unit of Princeton House, an outpatient program for those with mental health and substance abuse disorders, everyone ran up to greet them except one reserved teenage boy.
The teenager kept to himself in the corner of the room. Only after everyone else dispersed, the boy walked over to pet Frankie.
“He took off his hood and got down with Frankie, and he looked up at me and he said, ‘This is the best thing that’s happened to me since I got here,’” Aaron said. “That has stuck with me, that he finally had a smile on his face, and there was something good that he experienced in what was otherwise an unhappy environment for him.
“It was a very powerful moment because it showed just how much of a difference these animals make in people’s lives,” she said.
Interactions like these helped Frankie earn a nomination in the therapy dog category of the American Humane Hero Dog Awards. The annual campaign recognizes working dogs from across the nation in a variety of categories — therapy dogs, search and rescue, guide dogs, among others. The winners will be flown out to Hollywood in September to attend an awards gala, and the dog’s charity partner will receive a $2,500 donation from American Humane.
Frankie’s charity partner is Attitudes in Reverse, a local organization that raises awareness about mental health and suicide. Aaron and the 8-year-old golden, lab and chow mix volunteer with AIR to provide comfort to those who may need it most — people coping with losing a loved one from suicide or those struggling with mental health disorders.
“With the AIR dog program, our focus is on people with mental health disorders,” AIR co-founder Tricia Baker said. “We go into schools. We have mental health education programs, and we always bring therapy dogs along with us.”
Frankie is one of 11 AIR dogs that are nominated for a Hero Dog Award, including the AIR “spokesdog,” Miki.
Frankie comes from rather humble beginnings. He was a stray who was taken in by a North Carolina shelter with a high kill rate. In 2011, his life was saved when Aaron adopted him.
Aaron, a retired elementary school special education teacher, never imagined she’d end up working with therapy dogs. But after she read an article about the working dogs, she knew Frankie had the perfect laid back and friendly demeanor for the job.
“He came from a very humble beginning, a beginning that could have ended in his death, so he I think is very appreciate of life,” Aaron said. “I think that he demonstrates a lot of love and empathy for other people.”
Aaron and Frankie first began volunteering at hospitals in the area, including Robert Wood Johnson and Princeton, four days a week. Aaron said she didn’t know what to expect when she first began volunteering with Frankie. She was amazed to discover how a visit from a therapy dog can make a big difference in someone’s day by allowing them to forget about their situation, even for just a brief moment.
While they both loved interacting with patents at the hospitals — Aaron said Frankie was eager to show off his tricks and receive pets — back surgery made it difficult for Aaron to walk around the large hospital units. After her surgery, Frankie was also diagnosed with arthritis, limiting his mobility as well.
Not wanting to let their limited mobility restrict their volunteering, they began working solely with AIR to volunteer at their events, where people often come to the dogs rather than the other way around.
Baker said the AIR dogs are a vital part of the organization’s mission to help break down barriers surrounding the stigma of mental illness. Baker said when AIR attends community wellness events, few people want to talk about mental health and suicide. They do, however, come up to pet the therapy dogs, and as they’re petting the dog they often ask about the organization and learn what AIR does.
‘It’s just amazing what the dogs can do, the positive physical, mental and emotional impact.’
“Nine out of 10 times, people have their own stories they’re now willing to share after petting a dog,” Baker said. “The dogs come out, and [people’s stories] just come out. They feel safe. It’s just amazing what the dogs can do, the positive physical, mental and emotional impact.”
AIR is an entirely volunteer driven nonprofit, and they receive no government grants or funding. Having an AIR dog win the Hero Dog Award would be go a long way toward funding the organization’s initiates and helping them continue to spread awareness about mental health, Baker said.
Aaron knows that Frankie is up against tough competition for the Hero Dog Award, but win or lose, she is honored to be able to share his story with so many people.
“For him to turn out as mellow and loving and kind considering where he came from, I think that’s a story that can translate to people too,” Aaron said. “No matter where you come from, no matter what your hardships have been, you have a choice about the type of person you want to be. He [Frankie] has brought a lot of happiness, love and comfort to a whole range of people.”
The first round of voting is open through Wednesday, April 25. Cast your vote online at herodogawards.org/vote.
Carmella Aaron with her therapy dog, Frankie. Frankie is a nominee for the American Humane Hero Dog Award.,
