K9 Mac: The Hero with Fur and a Big Heart
“He got involved in an organization that pairs therapy dogs with officers and was offered Mac for free.”
Since 2022, Deputy Steven Espel and his loyal K9 partner, Mac, have been working side by side, bringing calm and kindness wherever they go. From schools to crisis scenes, Mac isn’t your average dog—he’s a certified therapy dog making a huge difference in people’s lives.
“We train twice a day: once in the morning and the evening and we do a lot of community events and we just bond very well since the first day I met him,” explained Deputy Espel.
Most days, you’ll find the duo visiting Cairo-Durham Elementary School, but they’ve also responded to 47 mental health incidents across Greene County. What’s amazing is that just by being there, Mac helps people feel better—sometimes even enough to avoid a trip to the hospital.
“Just the fact that the dog is there and it has a calming effect and it has significantly reduced the need for several of those people who would have normally been transported to the hospital for a mental health crisis,” said Sheriff Peter Kusminsky.
In total, K9 Mac and Deputy Espel have made 600 community visits! Because of all their hard work, Mac received a super special title: Therapy Dog Supreme, awarded by the American Kennel Club.
“That’s very unique. It’s a huge impact to be able to achieve that,” said Deputy Espel.
Even more incredible, Mac is the first K9 therapy dog in the Capital Region to earn this honor.
“It shows all the time and energy that I put into the training and all these classes I’ve attended the achievement, right? It’s a great impact, like I said, for our community as well as it’s an honor to do that.”
Mac will soon go through his recertification, but with all the training and heart he brings, no one doubts he’ll pass with flying colors. Plus, thanks to the Columbia-Greene Humane Society, Mac and other K9s received life vests for safety while working in the field.
K9 Mac is more than a dog—he’s a symbol of hope, care, and the amazing things that can happen when humans and animals work together. Therapy dogs like Mac remind us that sometimes, the best way to help people is simply by being present, kind, and loyal.
Source:
- https://youtu.be/YFTWXdMm0TY?si=_jLmSjuZZz0ThwGg
- https://www.news10.com/news/greene-county-sheriffs-therapy-dog-supreme/
- https://app.pictory.ai/
- https://chatgpt.com/
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