Therapy K9, Elliott joins IU Health team

Meet Elliott! He's a ten-month-old labrador retriever and IU Health's first therapy K-9 officer. Elliott has joined the Department of Public Safety (DPS) team with a mission to support the mental health and well-being of IU Health team members.

Elliott is extensively trained to work specifically in a hospital environment. Unlike traditional police K-9s, Elliott is not trained in drug or explosives detection. His role is purely therapeutic, offering comfort and connection to team members.

“We are going to take care of Elliott so he can take care of you," said Shannon Trump, DPS Chief of Police. "He is here for you. If you see him around the hospitals, please feel free to stop and say hi.”