Children in the foster care system face many challenges. Even with a team of support - from loving foster parents to case workers and other officials – they have battles to fight and hills to climb. Today, there’s a new friend in their corner when the storm clouds surround them. Their silver lining is Polar, Hero To A Child’s Facility Dog, the first Courthouse Facility Dog serving Florida’s 6th Judicial Circuit.
Hero To A Child was founded in 1989. Its original purpose was simply to provide holiday gifts and meals to kids in the child welfare system. “It expanded from gifts to basic needs, educational items, tutoring support, participation in extracurriculars, all kinds of other activities outside of just holiday gifts,” shared Erin Authier-Lohr,Executive Director of Hero To A Child. Their team comes in to help fill the needs that the state funding of foster care can’t stretch to cover. They have programs that help cover children’s needs, Guardian ad Litem support, resource closets as well as their annual holiday program and more.
In November 2024, they officially started a new program – one that’s been over two years in the making. “I learned about the courthouse facility dogs program and the amazing benefit courthouse dogs bring to kids that are in these really difficult places. I reached out to Canine Companions to learn about the process,” explained Authier-Lohr. Canine Companions Inc. leads the service dog industry. The dog Authier-Lohr was hoping to bring to Hero To A Child would be a donation from Canine Companions and they had to prove their program was worthy of such a generous donation. That’s when Tammie McQueeney joined the team as an admin – and future dog handler.
All their hard work came to fruition when they got the call that puppies were available and their opportunity might have arrived. “She trained with several dogs, because there’s not a guarantee that you leave with a dog. They have to find the right dog that can do the job, and that pairs well with the handler,” explained Authier-Lohr. The team was ecstatic when they learned Polar would be joining the team. After two weeks of training, Polar and McQueeny were licenced and ready to build their program. Polar’s goal is to offer calm, comfort, and emotional support to children whether it be during a court appearance, medical exam, forensic interview or other need.
On office days, you’ll find Polar greeting guests at the resource center. Two days a week, they head to Pasco Kids First, a children’s advocacy center. “We hang out in the waiting room, play with the kids while they’re waiting, and make them feel comfortable. Sometimes we color, sometimes we play ball, he’s learning to play games where he can bowl and do things like that. It’s just engaging him with the kids,” said McQueeny.
“Every once in a while, they will have a specific case or request. She had one that had been there for two months, going to therapy regularly and would never engage in the conversation or in therapy, and was very angry,” explained Authier-Lohr. “It was immediate. She engaged with the dog, and we just hung out and talked about dogs she knew. He just opens up conversations. And then her therapist came out, we continued to just talk about dogs, and they went back for their session. Her therapist told me that was the breakthrough moment for her, and she just opened up,” added McQueeny.
“There was another one that really sticks with me,” shared McQueeny. “It was just me, Polar, and this little six-year-old in the lobby. He was very engaged with me and learning about the dog. We just sat on the floor and pet the dog. There was a woman I had never seen before, and she was just watching us. It turns out this little boy who was so quiet and content with the dog was five minutes ago, threatening everybody in the building. He was just full of rage and anger, and he didn’t want to talk to anybody. She was just amazed at the turnaround that this little boy had within five minutes with this dog.”
Soon, Polar will start making appearances in the courthouse. “We just got the green light. We’re paired with Judge Westine in Pasco, and she is allowing him to practice being in the witness stand,” said McQueeny.
Those who want to support the amazing impact the Hero To A Child team is having on children in the foster care system have many options available. “There’s always something you can do. You don’t have to be a foster parent to change the life of a foster child. You could be a volunteer. You could be a donor. Share on social media. Adopt a kid at Christmas. Invite us to your churches or your community organizations to share about foster care,” shared Authier-Lohr. “Anybody that has a heart to change a life can get involved in foster care, and I would encourage them to do so. It has changed my life dramatically.”
To learn more about Polar, Hero To A Child or how you can help be the silver lining for kids in the child welfare system visit herotoachild.org.
“There’s always something you can do. You don’t have to be a foster parent to change the life of a foster child.”