Today was one of those days that reminded me just how lucky we are to have Jersey in our lives—and on our team. For those who don’t know, Jersey is our lovable, slobbery, 92-pound Saint Bernard who serves as a therapy dog for the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office. And let me tell you, she takes her job seriously… well, as seriously as a big fluffball can.

Every so often, Jersey has to head up to Columbus, Ohio, for refresher training. It’s kind of like continuing education for therapy dogs—except with more drool and tail wags. Today was one of those days. We loaded up early, grabbed some coffee (for me, not her), and hit the road.

When we got there, it was like a reunion of the goodest boys and girls from all over the country. Therapy dogs came in all shapes and sizes—from tiny poodles in vests to majestic goldens and calm labs. But Jersey? She was the star of the show. I might be a little biased, but when she walked in, all eyes were on her. There’s just something about a Saint Bernard that draws people in—maybe it’s her sheer size, maybe it’s those big, gentle eyes, or maybe it’s the fact that she always looks like she’s about to hand you a brandy barrel and save you from an avalanche.

Jersey nailed every part of her refresher. She stayed calm, cool, and collected, even with dozens of other dogs around and a crowd of people fussing over her. She did her rounds, made some new doggie friends, let everyone get their Jersey hugs in, and of course, posed for about a hundred photos. I swear she knows when a camera’s pointed at her.

What stood out most was how genuinely happy she looked the whole time. Her tail never stopped wagging, and she had that signature Saint Bernard smile going the entire day. It’s like she knew she was doing something important—and that she was surrounded by her fellow four-legged heroes.

Driving back to Belmont County, she was snoring in the backseat before we even hit the freeway. A day well spent.

Proud doesn’t even begin to cover it. Jersey did an amazing job today, and I think she had just as much fun as everyone who got to spend time with her. Days like this remind me that therapy dogs like Jersey aren’t just cute mascots—they’re making real, positive impacts. And we couldn’t ask for a better partner in paws.