Working Like Dogs - Service Dogs and Working Dogs - Pet Life Radio Original

He was a scruffy stray with bad skin allergies, wandering a Florida beach with nobody coming for him — and three years later he was standing on a national stage as America’s 2025 Hero Dog. This week, retired Metro Nashville police officer Faye Okert returns to Working Like Dogs to talk with Marcie and Fenway about Sgt. Bo: From Homeless to Hero, the new children’s book that puts her partner’s extraordinary journey right into the hands of young readers. Faye tells us why she wants every child to close that last page believing they can do absolutely anything, and how one rescued mutt manages to teach the very lessons she spent seventeen years as a school resource officer trying to get across: everybody deserves a second chance, you can never judge anyone by how they look, and kindness is always a choice you get to make. She also shares the story behind the companion coloring book — because some kids do their best thinking with a crayon in hand. Grab the little ones for this one. Sgt. Bo has something to tell them!EPISODE NOTES: From Homeless to Hero: Sgt. Bo’s Story Comes to the PageBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-like-dogs-service-dogs-and-working-dogs-pet-life-radio-original--6668004/support.

Hold onto your harnesses, because today on Working Like Dogs, Fenway and I traveled (by microphone!) all the way to Denali National Park and Preserve to visit the only sled dog kennel in the entire National Park Service — a program that's been running strong since 1922. Our delightful guest, Kennels Manager David Tomeo, took us deep into the sub-arctic wilderness where his phenomenal Alaskan huskies patrol over five millions acres that no snowmobile is allowed to touch, haul scientists and gear into some of the most remote terrain on Earth, and carry forward a mushing tradition rooted in thousands of years of Alaska's indigenous culture. These dogs aren't just working — they're protecting wild places, powering real science, and honoring a legacy far older than the park itself. And if all that doesn't melt your heart, this will: Denali has a brand-new litter of future patrol pups, and you can watch them grow up live on the park's puppy cam.Trust me, your productivity may never recover — but your heart will thank you!EPISODE NOTES: A Century on the Trail: Denali's Sled Dog Kennels with David TomeoBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-like-dogs-service-dogs-and-working-dogs-pet-life-radio-original--6668004/support.

What happens inside the mind of a horse? In this fascinating episode, Marcie and Fenway sit down with neuroscientist, equine researcher, and author Dr. Janet Jones to explore the remarkable world of horse cognition, emotion, and communication through her groundbreaking new book, A Horse's World: A Neuroscientist's Journey into the Equine Mind. Dr. Jones takes us beyond myths and assumptions to reveal how horses perceive, learn, remember, and connect with humans—sharing insights from decades of research that will transform the way you understand these incredible animals. Whether you are a lifelong horse lover, a curious science enthusiast, or simply fascinated by the minds of other species, this conversation offers a captivating journey into the intelligence, sensitivity, and extraordinary inner lives of horses and how they can connect with us. EPISODE NOTES: A Horse's WorldBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-like-dogs-service-dogs-and-working-dogs-pet-life-radio-original--6668004/support.

In this episode of Working Like Dogs, host Marcie Davis sits down with Brooke Corson, an activated reservist turned dog trainer and the visionary founder of Mutts with a Mission. Discover the inspiring journey behind this unique Virginia non-profit, which started with a single Cairn Terrier named Angus and grew into a groundbreaking force providing service dogs at zero cost to wounded warriors, veterans, and first responders. Brooke shares the fascinating backstory of how she helped author official U.S. Navy policy to deploy "Expeditionary Facility Dogs" (EFDs) directly onto active warships. Tune in to hear incredible, life-saving stories of these canine heroes—like Sage and Ike—who are providing critical mental health support, lowering stress, and building resilience for thousands of sailors deployed far from home.EPISODE NOTES: Canine Carriers: How Mutts with a Mission Deploys Dogs at SeaBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-like-dogs-service-dogs-and-working-dogs-pet-life-radio-original--6668004/support.

What do you get when a stray dog becomes a hero, a police department gains its most compassionate officer, and an entire nation falls in love on live television? You get Sgt. Bo and one of the most heart-warming episodes of Working Like Dogs we've ever recorded. Host Marcie Davis sat down with Faye Okert, the devoted handler behind this four-legged phenomenon, and Robin Ganzert, President and CEO of American Humane Society to share the breathtaking journey of a dog who went from wandering the streets of Nashville to comforting children in the aftermath of tragedy — and ultimately winning the 2025 American Humane Hero Dog Award. Robin pulls back the curtain on the Hero Dog Awards and shares the most urgent issues American Humane is fighting for right now on behalf of animals everywhere. And Sgt. Bo's story is living proof that the dogs who need saving the most are often the ones who end up saving us. Faye and Robin remind us why dogs aren't just our best friends — they're our healers, our heroes, and sometimes, our greatest teachers. This is the episode to share with every dog lover in your life!EPISODE NOTES: Sgt. Bo Reporting for DutyBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/working-like-dogs-service-dogs-and-working-dogs-pet-life-radio-original--6668004/support.