The American Humane Society has honored a retired therapy dog with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department for offering support to students after The Covenant School shooting in 2023.
Sgt. Bo won the American Humane Hero Dog Awards for embodying what the animal welfare organization “looks for in a hero dog: service, resiliency, and love,” president and CEO Dr. Robin Ganzert told USA Today.
“His work offering comfort and confidence to the kids of Nashville is a beautiful testament to the healing power of the human-animal bond,” Ganzert said. “Sgt. Bo’s transformation from a shelter pet living on the street to a police therapy dog serving his community should inspire us all. We are honored to celebrate this scruffy superstar and crown him as America’s 2025 Hero Dog.”
Bo will be formally honored next year, along with four other honorary dogs, at the 15th Annual American Humane Hero Dog Awards and Gala in Florida.
The shooting took place on March 27, 2023, at the private Christian school. Three 9-year-old students and three teachers were killed. Two police officers shot and killed the shooter, Audrey Hale, 28. The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department was unable to find a motive behind the shooting other than notoriety, according to its final report.
Bo’s handler, Faye Okert, told News Channel 5 Nashville in August that she and Bo would hop on school buses to meet with kids following the shooting.
“The supervisor asked us to get on each school bus with [Bo],” she said. “‘It’ll comfort the kids. Explain what’s going on.’ He went down the aisles. The kids were petting him. While the kids were waiting at the church to be reunited with their parents, he stayed with them. There’s a teacher who said she remembers him getting on the bus and how safe they felt.”
Bo and Faye are both retired after Bo tore his anterior cruciate ligament in January. But Faye continued to bring Bo back to The Covenant School every week as a special guest, and to other local schools each month.
“He’s my partner and my best friend,” Faye told News Channel 5 Nashville. “The impact that we have made together and he has made is phenomenal.”
