My name is James L. Smyrl, Ph.D., and I serve as a Pastor, Prison Fellowship Academy Manager and a volunteer with Richland County Sheriff’s Department in the Victim Services Division. The officers in this division were recently featured on the Netflix documentary, “Missing: Dead or Alive.” Watching the documentary reveals the intense level of stress officers experience.
Scout is an integral part of my work with people suffering from grief, PTSD, trauma and job-related anxiety. Our work is helping officers, victims and people walking through grief to manage their emotional challenges. We are blessed to make a difference in the lives of so many people.
Scout and I began our service journey together at the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (SCDJJ). As a Clinical Chaplain, I provided spiritual care, counsel, advice, and interacted daily with at-risk youth. The experience Scout and I gained at SCDJJ is now applied to the many people we serve in churches, community and law enforcement. I daily witness the life-changing impact Scout makes in men, women, teens and children.
Research demonstrates that people are far more likely to receive counseling and join group therapeutic sessions if a skilled dog is present. People who serve in high stress environments and are regularly exposed to a facility dog, experience a reduction in stress and increase in job satisfaction. I partner with PAALS and
Scout because an immeasurable number of victims and law enforcement professionals are positively impacted.
My effectiveness as a teacher, counselor, group therapy facilitator, and pastor are vastly improved with Scout by my side. I encourage you to give to this PAALS’ training fund to continue the life changing work of future PAALS’ graduates. The need for service, facility and therapy dogs is greater than the resources available. Will you join me and Scout as we seek to continue to invest in others.
My effectiveness as a teacher, counselor, group therapy facilitator, and pastor are vastly improved with Scout by my side. I encourage you to give to this PAALS’ training fund to continue the life changing work of future PAALS’ graduates. The need for service, facility and therapy dogs is greater than the resources available. Will you join me and Scout as we seek to continue to invest in others?