ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — When Officer Kora trots down the hallway at the Asheville Police Department, conversations soften, shoulders drop and smiles spread.
The big white Goldendoodle doesn’t carry a badge, track suspects or sniff for drugs. Instead, she gives high-fives, leans in for hugs and, when needed most, climbs gently into someone’s lap to deliver what her handler calls “compression therapy” — the steady, calming weight of a dog who seems to know exactly when she’s needed.
“She doesn’t apprehend people,” Senior Police Officer Debbie LeCroy said with a laugh. “She gives love to the community.”
Kora, 5, serves as a full-time therapy dog in the department’s Community Engagement Unit. LeCroy, a 13-year law enforcement veteran who has split her career between city and county agencies, spent months researching therapy dog programs before drafting a proposal to bring one to Asheville. Kora became the first therapy dog of her kind in the region when she joined the department.
After eight weeks with her mother, Kora completed eight months of training at Highland Canine Training. LeCroy also completed a 40-hour K-9 handler course and serves on the Western North Carolina Critical Incident Stress Management team, responding when officers or other first responders experience trauma.
While Kora is a familiar face at community events and downtown “Paw Patrol” outings — complete with a miniature police hat and a small cart outfitted with blue lights — much of her most meaningful work happens quietly.
During high-profile investigations and emotionally taxing trials, crime scene investigators and patrol officers have sought out Kora for a few minutes of calm. In one serious interagency meeting involving detectives, state agents and prosecutors, Kora padded into the room unannounced.
“It was very tense,” LeCroy said. “She just marched straight in there. Everybody took a breath. When you see a big white fluffy dog, it gives you a moment to gather yourself.”
That pause can make a difference in a profession defined by stress.
“She’s the ultimate de-escalation,” said Rick Rice, the department’s public information officer. “The tone changes when she walks into a room. It’s invaluable.”
Kora’s reach extends far beyond police headquarters. She regularly visits Asheville City Schools, including alternative programs where students may struggle with behavioral or social challenges. At first, some middle schoolers kept their distance. Now, teachers say the students count down the days until Kora returns.
In classrooms, children wait as Kora makes her rounds. Sometimes she stops and gently settles against one child, resting her head or lying across their lap. Her compression therapy mimics the effect of a weighted blanket, offering a steady, reassuring pressure.
“For some kids, that might be the only hug they get all day,” LeCroy said.
Teachers often marvel at how Kora seems to choose the student who needs her most. LeCroy tells children that Kora has a special ability to sense when someone needs comfort, or maybe she just wants a hug herself.
“It’s an icebreaker,” LeCroy said. “It bridges a gap between law enforcement and the community.”
That bridge proved especially important in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene, when first responders faced days of intense calls and emotional strain. Kora visited officers and community members coping with loss and disruption, providing comfort and, at times, helping anxious responders rest through calming pressure techniques.
In 2024, Kora and LeCroy were nationally recognized for that work, winning the FHE Health First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award. The honor included a $2,000 donation to the First Responders Pack Foundation and a live appearance on CNN on Christmas Day.
Kora also supports the American Red Cross, participates in Special Olympics events and helps distribute Thanksgiving turkeys through local charities. A second therapy dog, Hope, works with victims at the Family Justice Center and is able to accompany children into courtrooms.
Still, Kora’s daily routine is often simple: visiting schools, stopping by city offices, attending blood drives or just making the rounds inside police headquarters. Nearly every day, LeCroy receives another invitation.
“Every day she’s requested somewhere,” Rice said. “She makes herself available to members of the community, especially kids.”
Despite her busy schedule, Kora remains, at heart, a dog who loves toys and attention. She’s more toy-driven than treat-driven, often carrying a stuffed animal in her mouth as she greets visitors. On social media, where she maintains an active presence, followers can track her latest school visit or holiday outfit.
No matter the setting — a tense briefing room, an elementary classroom or a downtown sidewalk — the effect is the same.
“She absolutely loves her job,” LeCroy said. “And sometimes, all you need is a moment to pet a dog.”
In a profession that regularly confronts the worst days of people’s lives, Officer Kora offers something simple but powerful: a breath of fresh air, wrapped in white fur.
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