July 29, 2025
NEWS RELEASE
The Bonneville County Sheriff’s is excited to announce a new addition to our K-9 team. Over the past year, Deputies have been researching the benefits of a therapy K-9 dog attached to the School Resource Officer (SRO) Team and implemented in the schools. With a generous donation from the Greater Idaho Falls Police Foundation, the project was able to become a reality in time for the upcoming school year with the purchase of a new Bernedoodle pup named “Strider”. K-9 Strider, now 5 months old, became part of the BCSO Team just a few months ago and has already been training for his new purpose with SRO Dep. Nathan Downey.
Dep. Downey is one of nine Deputies assigned to School Resource Officer duties in Bonneville County Schools and began researching the utilization of therapy dogs with students. SRO Deputies are called to assist with students in crisis or with special needs on a regular basis. Some of those interactions can be very difficult and disruptive, often turning physical with staff and counselors. Those situations can be resource and time intensive, however in a few instances Deputies observed the simple interaction with animals proved to be a productive and calming solution.
K-9’s deployed into the community is nothing new to the Sheriff’s Office, historically having a variety of breeds and purposes over the years from drug searches to apprehension. This particular purposed K-9 is a first for BCSO addressing a growing need for crisis response resources. “The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office has a long and accomplished history of integrating dogs into our operations” said Sheriff Samuel Hulse. “Strider’s mission as a therapeutic K-9 is new to us and we look forward to seeing him make a difference in our schools and community with Dep. Downey.”
Kickstarting this new project with a $12,000 donation from the Greater Idaho Falls Police Foundation also enabled the creation of a new support partner, K9 Heroes Foundation, to help sustain the therapy K-9 program for BCSO and possibly others as it grows. Like other Law Enforcement K-9’s, the breed and type of dog are chosen according to their intended purpose and require training and upkeep. K9 Heroes Foundation Executive Director Emily Downey recognized in a time where budgets and resources are tight, sustainability was crucial. “The K9 HEROES Foundation was created to ensure programs like this one don’t just get started, but are sustainable,” said Downey. “With community support, we can care for these dogs, expand the program, and give more students the connection and comfort they deserve. It’s not just the support of therapy dogs like Strider, it’s also part of developing educational programs that teach students about emotional wellness, healthy coping skills, and the role of therapy dogs in crisis response.”
As the project continues to evolve, the Sheriff’s Office is working toward implementing a therapy K-9 at the Bonneville County Jail with help from community grants for funding. That portion of the K-9 program is still in the planning stages and an announcement of the addition is expected to come in the future. “We are grateful for the addition of Strider to our team of K-9 Deputies” Sheriff Hulse continued. “We thank all our community partners, the Citizens of Bonneville County, Greater Idaho Falls Police Foundation, Bonneville School Dist. #93, and the K9 Heroes Foundation for helping make the addition of Strider to our team possible.”
To learn more about crisis canines and how you can support K-9 Strider and the K9 Heroes Foundation, visit their website at www.k9heroesfoundation.com and follow K9 Heroes Foundation on Facebook and Instagram.
