{"id":72254,"date":"2025-11-10T10:31:15","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T15:31:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/?p=72254"},"modified":"2025-11-18T11:12:21","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T16:12:21","slug":"meet-sophie-utcs-newest-sergeant-and-therapy-dog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2025\/11\/meet-sophie-utcs-newest-sergeant-and-therapy-dog\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Sophie, UTC\u2019s newest\u00a0sergeant\u00a0and therapy dog\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"UTC

UTC Police Corporal Aaron Bayer and his K-9, Sophie. Photo by Angela Foster.<\/p><\/div>\n

Sergeant Sophie recently landed her dream job at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. So did Corporal Aaron Bayer of the <\/span>UTC Police Department<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sophie, a 1-year-old Labrador Retriever, officially started her role on Nov. 3 as the <\/span>UTCPD<\/span> therapy dog.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Before Bayer\u2014Sophie\u2019s handler\u2014began at UTC last year, he thought his policing career was over.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI left law enforcement thinking that I was done forever, just for a myriad of reasons,\u201d Bayer said. \u201cThen I became a school security officer at Brown Academy right here on UTC\u2019s campus. I started to get to know people here \u2026 they kind of suckered me back into it, and ever since then it was meant to be because this is something I’ve always wanted to do.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That \u201csomething\u201d was community policing and having close partnerships to build a stronger sense of trust.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd dogs,\u201d he added. \u201cI\u2019m a big dog guy. I grew up working in a kennel. My mom is a <\/span>veterinarian<\/span>. So this has always been a dream of mine. I never thought I would have a therapy K-9. I didn\u2019t even know that was an option.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The hunt for Sophie began long before she was even born.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis has been a conversation that\u2019s been going on for a number of years,\u201d said Director of Emergency Management Brett Fuchs. \u201cWe asked, \u2018What can we do to not only better engage with the students, but help people more?\u2019\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Compared to most K-9s, Sophie will not help with detection or enforcement. As a therapy dog, she will work to assist victims of crime, provide emotional support to the UTC community, and participate in outreach across campus and other local areas.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHer work is all community engagement-based,\u201d Fuchs said. \u201cShe will be on campus with Aaron helping people feel more comfortable, providing comfort to both students and employees as well as the community outside of UTC. We\u2019ve already had invitations to Hamilton County Schools and other places.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

UTC Police Chief Sean O\u2019Brien, handler of<\/span> Gunny\u2014a retired K-9 and UTC\u2019s chief canine officer<\/span><\/b><\/a>\u2014said his experience working with dogs influenced the decision to bring one to the department.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHaving done a long stint in the K-9 world, I knew the value of dogs,\u201d O\u2019Brien said. \u201cOne of the intents behind Sophie is that she is a gateway to building relationships with folks.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMany people react positively to these little creatures.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bayer also saw the need for a K-9 from the very beginning. Little did he know that he would be the dog\u2019s handler and owner.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI just thought I was helping with the project. After we had gone through everything, thankfully I guess Chief [O\u2019Brien] had seen the work that I had put in and the dedication. I think that\u2019s why ultimately he picked me\u2014but they\u2019ll never tell me,\u201d Bayer said with a laugh.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"UTC<\/p>\n

Sophie was born in Dawsonville, Georgia, at Rucker Retrievers Dog Training. She was originally trained as a service animal, but her first placement didn\u2019t work out.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fuchs, O\u2019Brien and Bayer traveled to Georgia to meet her in person. When Bayer first met Sophie, he was struck by her intelligence and personality.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat she allows us is the ability to connect with people that wouldn\u2019t traditionally talk to us as police officers,\u201d he said. \u201cI could walk around campus by myself all day long and kids are kind of locked in. But with her\u2014who doesn\u2019t love a dog?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bayer said Sophie is the first of her therapy-dog kind in the Chattanooga community, which means she will have a lot of ground to cover.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur plan is to expand into the community, hit the hospitals, all the elementary schools, pretty much anywhere that we can go,\u201d he said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When she is on campus, Sophie will work closely with the UTC Counseling Center, which has already proven to be a successful relationship.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Counseling Center Director Corrinne Webster said Sophie\u2019s presence brings comfort not only to students but to the staff as well.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Counseling Center is delighted whenever we receive visits from Corporal Bayer and Sophie,\u201d Webster said. \u201cSometimes their visits are spontaneous, but other times we specifically request their presence. Sophie offers students and staff a welcome distraction from stress and anxiety, which helps boost mood and overall well-being.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnimal-assisted engagement has been shown to release the hormone oxytocin, which is associated with a decrease in cortisol and increased feelings of calm. We\u2019ve seen Sophie\u2019s special magic at work as students come and go from the Counseling Center, smiling and connecting with her as a much-needed break in their busy days.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even the counselors benefit from Sophie\u2019s visits.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve also called on the duo to check in on our counselors after attending to students in crisis,\u201d Webster said. \u201cStudents, staff and faculty alike benefit from improved mental health when Sophie and Corporal Bayer stop by.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Sophie,<\/p>\n

At the end of a long working day, Sophie goes home with her best friend, Bayer.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s with me 24 hours a day, seven days a week,\u201d he said. \u201cSince she\u2019s a service dog, she has public access rights, so I take her everywhere with me. We go grocery shopping; she comes to the mall. She\u2019s usually with me all the time.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bayer said that the majority of the work he\u2019s done has been adjusting his own habits.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was me that needed the training,\u201d he said. \u201cI think that\u2019s one of the most humbling things about it. You have to set your ego aside and think about what you\u2019re doing, because if there\u2019s anything wrong with her, it\u2019s because of me.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The hard work is paying off. Sophie is already opening doors on campus\u2014literally.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can hand her my key card and she\u2019ll go right up to the door, jump up, scan it, hand it back to me and I\u2019ll open the door. She will sit and hold it open,\u201d Bayer said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He encouraged the UTC community to say \u201chi\u201d when he and Sophie are out and about. <\/span>Click here<\/span><\/b><\/a> to follow Sophie on Instagram.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/h4>\n

Visit UTC<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

UTC Department of Public Safety<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

UTC Police Department<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Gunny, a retired K-9, finds a new beat at UTC<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to apply<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Photo gallery by Angela Foster<\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"Sophie, <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Close-up <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"UTC <\/a> <\/div>
\"Sophie, <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"UTC <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sergeant Sophie recently landed her dream job at UTC. So did Corporal Aaron Bayer of the UTC Police Department.\u00a0Sophie, a 1-year-old Labrador Retriever, officially started her role on Nov. 3 as the UTCPD therapy dog.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Continue Reading <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2000,"featured_media":72280,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_slider":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_featurette":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[64,15,3,205,7712,8325],"tags":[126327,99091,123827,124535,125838,123828,124776,123829,124331,126325,126324,126326,48102],"class_list":{"0":"post-72254","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-campus","8":"category-community","9":"category-engagement","10":"category-faculty-and-staff","11":"category-news","12":"category-service","13":"tag-aaron-bayer","14":"tag-brett-fuchs","15":"tag-creating-the-mocs-experience","16":"tag-department-of-public-safety","17":"tag-gunny","18":"tag-leveraging-our-special-place-as-chattanoogas-university","19":"tag-mocs-learn-mocs-do-mocs-lead","20":"tag-operating-with-excellence","21":"tag-sean-obrien","22":"tag-sergeant-sophie","23":"tag-sophie","24":"tag-sophie-bayer","25":"tag-utc-police-department","26":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nMeet Sophie, UTC\u2019s newest\u00a0sergeant\u00a0and therapy dog\u00a0 | UTC News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Sergeant Sophie recently landed her dream job at UTC. 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