Who's a good girl? Rockford's Miss Keanu honored for therapy work during the pandemic
ROCKFORD — A border collie that helped ease people's stress at one of the city's mass vaccination sites last spring was given a state commendation for its work as a therapy dog.
Miss Keanu, the 10-year-old official therapy dog for the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department, was presented with a state Certificate of Recognition on Tuesday by state Sen. Steve Stadelman.
Keanu typically volunteers at the county's 911 center and was dispatched in 2019 after the death of Illinois State Trooper Brooke Jones-Story. During the pandemic, Keanu was alongside the Illinois National Guard at the mass vaccination clinic at the former Kmart on Sandy Hollow Road.
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Keanu is owned by Joe Love and Arles Hendershott Love.
"I must admit I hesitated in asking the Illinois Senate to issue special recognition to a four-legger," Stadelman said in a news release, "but Miss Keanu's record of volunteer service and the dedication of her owners really is exceptional. Keanu has brought comfort to many in times of stress, and the Loves deserve credit for sharing her with us."
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Keanu is one of only three border collies in the American Kennel Club to earn the highest rank of therapy dog, according to a news release. She's also an AKC gold-medal winner, among her 40 titles.
"Everyone at the Emergency Operations Center loved Keanu. She visited on numerous occasions, comforting about 50 people each time and often leaving so tired we had to lift (her) into our car," said Arles Love, who adopted Keanu from an animal shelter.
Pre-pandemic, Keanu provided therapy for adults with physical and developmental disabilities who reside with Milestone, a Rockford-based nonprofit organization.