5 for Good: Plymouth therapy dogs and handlers spread healing, joy

Stacey and Dennis Desroches spend much of their free time bringing their Great Danes, trained therapy dogs, to wherever folks might need a lift.”I’ve been to schools, nursing homes, hospitals,” Stacey said.Service just seems to be in the couple’s DNA. They met at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility where Stacey, recently retired, was an officer for nearly 33 years.Dennis has been with the department for 31 years, with the canine unit for the past 18.”Both of us love dogs,” Dennis said. “So, being a canine officer, it was actually my dream job.”Their Great Danes, Starr and Jersey, are half-sisters.Dennis said Starr was the department’s first therapy dog. Both she and Jersey were trained by Stacey, who said she is moved by doing outreach work.”Whatever (people are) going through, it just kind of takes them out of that mood for that one moment and they’re so happy,” she said. “(It) tugs on my heart, tugs on my heart, and that’s what I like about it.”Whether on the clock or off, Stacey, Dennis, Starr and Jersey are ready to respond.”I think as a first responder, as a corrections officer and as deputy sheriff, it’s just people are hardwired like that,” Dennis said. “I’ve been on call, on duty, 24-7 my whole career, so it’s nothing for me.”Karen Barry, the director of external affairs for the sheriff’s office, said having committed officers leading the canine program has been a game changer.”We are wired to have a better understanding these days about trauma-informed practices,” Barry said. “(The) comfort dog canine program really helps that mission of helping people that are being impacted by some really difficult issues.”

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