Dog that comforts grieving Nashville students wins Humane Society award
The American Humane Society has honored a retired Metropolitan Nashville Police Department therapy dog for providing support to students after the 2023 Covenant School shooting.
Sgt. Beau won the American Humane Hero Dog Awards for embodying what the animal welfare organization looks for “in a hero dog: service, resilience and love,” President and CEO Dr. Robin Ganzert told USA Today.
“His work providing comfort and confidence to Nashville children is a beautiful testament to the healing power of the human-animal bond,” Ganzert said. “Sergeant Bo’s transformation from a pet living on the street to a police therapy dog serving his community should inspire us all. We are honored to celebrate this superstar and crown him the 2025 American Hero Dog.”
Beau will be officially honored next year, along with four other honorary dogs, at the 15th Annual American Humane Hero Dog Awards and ceremony in Florida.
The shooting occurred on March 27, 2023, at the private Christian school. Three 9-year-old students and three teachers were killed. Two police officers shot and killed the shooter, Audrey Hill, 28. The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department was unable to find a motive for the shooting other than fame, according to its final report.
Faye Okert, Beau’s principal, told Nashville’s News Channel 5 in August that she and Beau would ride school buses to meet the children after the shooting.
“The superintendent asked us to go on every school bus [Bo]“It will comfort the kids,” she said. Explain what’s happening. Go down the hallways. The children were petting him. While the children waited in the church to be reunited with their parents, he stayed with them. “There’s a teacher who said she remembers him getting on the bus and how safe they felt.”
Both Bo and Faye retired after Bo tore his anterior cruciate ligament in January. But Faye continued to bring Bo back to Covenant School every week as a special guest, and to other local schools every month.
“He’s my partner and my best friend,” Faye told News Channel 5 in Nashville. “The impact we made together and that he made was tremendous.”
