Protective Services piloting wellness checks with a wellness animal

Kerri Shier, peace officer with University of Alberta Protective Services’ Strategic Community Response Team and her dog Penny

University of Alberta Protective Services is piloting a new project to have a wellness animal accompany the Strategic Community Response Team (SCRT). The goal is to give people another way to interact with the SCRT and help the team provide community members with assistance.

Wellness animals are a familiar presence on our campuses, with certified members of the Chimo Animal Assisted Wellness and Learning Society (CAAWLS) volunteering their time supporting initiatives from the Dean of Students and Residence Services.

Kerri Shier, one of the two peace officers that make up the SCRT, and her dog Penny are certified members of CAAWLS. Over the summer, Penny will be accompanying Kerri for a few hours each week as the SCRT completes wellness checks.

The SCRT operates on principles of community engagement and intelligence led response, using wellness checks to assist vulnerable individuals and data to pinpoint current or potential areas of concern.

Penny is a retriever/chocolate lab cross. You’ll be able to recognize her by the CAAWLS bandana around her neck. You may see Penny accompany Kerri any place the SCRT conducts wellness checks. Examples include HUB mall and the pedway above Health Sciences/Jubilee Station on North Campus.

This pilot is unique, as CAAWLS wellness animals don’t typically accompany volunteers in uniform. While your first instinct might be to avoid interacting with an animal accompanying a peace officer, Penny is not a working dog. Feel free to introduce yourself to Kerri and Penny and spend some time with them.

The wellness animal pilot project is meant to support everyone; students, staff, faculty and visitors to our campuses — anyone can choose to interact with Penny.

Fill out a quick survey to share any feedback you have about your experience with the project.