SWAMPSCOTT — The Police Department is seeking the public’s help to secure $2,500 in Aftermath K9 Grant funding for its emotional-support dog, Sora.
Aftermath Services, a biohazard-remediation and traumatic-event cleanup company, is awarding $15,000 distributed through $2,500 and $1,000 grants to police departments throughout the country to fund the creation, maintenance, or growth of K9 units.
Eligible departments are separated into different tiers based on the size of their workforces. Members of the public can vote online for the departments they want to win in each tier.
The Police Department purchased Sora in August and assigned her to her caretaker, School Resource Officer Brian Wilson. Wilson, who works at all five of the town’s public schools, said he lives, works, and spends practically all of his time with the dog.
Wilson said Sora’s day-to-day expenses such as food, water, and veterinarian care are not budgeted, and that the department relies on fundraising to pay for the dog’s care.
“She’s home with me 24/7,” Wilson said. “She’s with me every day, every night, every weekend, every minute of every waking day, so funding like this would help with all the expenses that come with having a dog.”
In schools and throughout the community, Sora serves as a therapy and comfort K9 who interacts with and cheers up students and community members. Wilson said some students learning to read will read to the dog.
“They don’t feel judged by the dog, so it’s a comfort thing for them, and it’s something that I never even thought would ever happen. It’s pretty incredible to watch the kids that are doing stuff like that,” Wilson said.
After false reports of an active shooter at St. John’s Prep in Danvers prompted a student evacuation last week, Sora was among the seven emotional-support K9s who welcomed the students back to school two days after the incident.
In his office at Swampscott High School, Wilson said students frequently stop by to spend time with the dog before and after their classes. He added that Sora’s presence helps form trust between students and the Police Department.
“Kids who were kind of apprehensive to approach me as a police officer, now feel a bit more comfortable. Having her has opened up those doors for me, which has been the best reward. Just seeing kids, who didn’t know how I would respond to them, are now realizing that I’m just another person and I’m here to help,” Wilson said.
Those who wish to support Sora can vote up to three times a day — once on Aftermath’s website, once on its Instagram page, and once on its Facebook page. The winning departments from each tier will be announced Wednesday, June 7.