b'The smiles on the childrens faces gave Sheriff Ivey andSerene Harbor staff an idea.The Sheriff immediately connect-ed Serene Harbor to Paws and Stripes, a program that rescuesand rehabilitates shelter dogs as service and therapy dogs.Thats where they found Lilly, who had graduated from anintensive 40-hour comfort dog training program. She istrained to work with both adults and children to reduceanxietyandangersymptoms,stabilizenegativemoods,produce healthy social interactions, stimulate cognitive andemotional responses from survivors and reduce symptomsof PTSD.The work that Lilly does in the shelter is absolutelyincredibleandwecouldnotbemorethankfulfortheimpact that she has had on survivors, especially the chil-dren, said Beverly DeMeyer, President and CEO of SereneHarbor. When it comes to people who have survived trau-matic experiences, such as domestic violence survivors, thepositive impact that our pets have on us can be even greaterand even essential to recovery times. Uwww.SereneHarbor.org. You may email beverly.demeyer@sereneharbor.org or call321.537.4481. Mailing address: Post Office Box 100039,Palm Bay, FL 32910.24/7 confidential hotline is 321.726.8282. Call or text.Major Junny joined theCommand Team at BrevardCounty Sheriffs Office as aseven-year law enforcementveteran. He was donatedto the agency when 10weeks old by the JimmyRyce Foundation.Recognized as AmericasTop Police Dog, Junny isa graduate of the Law Enforcement Tracking School at PatThomas Law Enforcement Academy in Tallahassee. He alsoholds a degree from Paws and Stripes College in Sharpes,Florida as a Child Comfort Dog. His background in lawenforcement includes Search and Rescue, Missing ChildrenInvestigations, Child Safety Programs, Fugitive Apprehension,Project Lifesaver, Crime Prevention, Animal AdoptionSpecialist, and Community Relations. Paws & Stripes began as a basic dog obedience pro-gram to help save the lives of dogs in the BrevardCounty Animal Shelter. Trained jail inmates are pairedwith shelter dogs, training them in voice commands andhand signals. The program has advanced into the Pawsand Stripes College which includes the Comfort DogProgram.www.brevardsheriff.comwww.TheNewBarker.com THE NEW BARKER 23'