North Carolina Sheriff’s Office Welcomes First K-9 Therapy Dog

I distinctly remember my first experience with a K-9 dog unit.  I had graduated from high school a couple of years earlier and had occasion to go home from college early one Friday afternoon and visit with a former teacher.  I was greeted by metal detectors and a drug sniffing dog upon entry.  I couldn't believe it.  And I was a bit alarmed.  I've always been scared of German shepherd dogs (long childhood story), and even though there was nothing untoward about my interaction with the dog, it still put me on edge.

So, anytime I hear the term, "K-9 Dog Unit."  I'm immediately taken back to that moment and my fear.  However, Rowan County Sherriff's Department has made a move that may change my perception for life.  They've added a therapy dog to their K-9 lineup.

"Sandy" is a golden retriever.  Let's stop right there.  WHO DOESN'T LOVE GOLDEN RETRIEVERS?!  If you don't, we can't be friends, right?  Anyway, her training was interesting.  According to WSOC-TV, Sandy’s certification testing was held at the Tractor Supply Co. store so the tester could tell if she was well-behaved around other dogs and large crowds of people.

Whereas most K-9 unit dogs are associated with drugs or tracking, Sandy's marching orders are much different.  Mainly, she will be utilized in supporting child victims of crimes, stressed-out first-time offenders (think a German shepherd is scary, try jail!), and going to schools to help kids or anyone else who needs a little love and support.

What about stressed-out DJs?  Any way I can convince the Rowan Country Sheriff's Office to let Sandy take a field trip to Charlotte to pay the Country 1037 studios a visit?

Five of the most dog-friendly restaurants in America are in North Carolina. Listen I love dogs. I really do. And I'm on board (if your dog can handle it and is happy) for taking dogs to places like breweries. Perhaps even somewhere with an outdoor patio to eat. But I'm a little more hazy on that one. But what I saw this weekend in Blowing Rock, was two different dogs one in a stroller and the other just laying under the table, inside in a restaurant. I'm sorry the line has to be drawn somewhere. Your dog will be ok at home for an hour by themselves. These were not service animals, just dogs that were accompanying their owners to dine inside a sit-down restaurant.

I get it. When my dog was alive I did wish I could take him everywhere. He loved to go to the drive threw, the bank,  or a pet-friendly store like Petsmart. But I never took him into a general store and certainly never to a restaurant. And in all honesty, he would have been miserable at a restaurant. He hated sitting still in a new place, would have been trying to eat everyone's food, and the heat outside would have bothered him as well. But despite my personal feelings about taking your dog out to eat, numerous people do it. This is what led Yelp to create a list of the most dog-friendly restaurants in America. And not one, not two, but 5 North Carolina restaurants made the list.

Here's how Yelp says the list was curated: "We identified businesses in the restaurants and food categories with a large concentration of reviews mentioning "dog friendly," then ranked those spots using a number of factors including the total volume and ratings of reviews mentioning those keywords between June 1, 2020, and June 1, 2023. If a chain appeared on the list more than once, we only included the highest-rated location. When available, all businesses on this list have a passing health score as of June 1, 2023." You can view the full list of 100 restaurants here or keep reading to see the 5 top dog-friendly restaurants in North Carolina.

Location: Asheville, NC

Sunny Point Cafe is a popular comfort food spot in West Asheville. It has over 2360 reviews on Yelp and a 4.5 star rating. They are open for breakfast and lunch. View the menu here.

Location: Old Fort

Just down the road in Old Fort North Carolina you'll find the second NC restaurant on this list- Hillman Beer. There are actually locations not only in Old Fort but in Asheville and Morganton as well. This small family-owned business brings "the pub style to a brewery experience". It boasts a large outdoor patio with picnic tables perfect for bringing your pup. View the menu here.

Location: Asheville

Asheville does have a reputation as being very dog friendly. And this next spot also stays in Asheville. You'll find Funkatorium in the South Slope of Asheville. It is owned by popular Wicked Weed Brewing and is the East Coast’s first sour beer dedicated taproom. And like most breweries, Funkatorium is dog friendly. View the menu here.

Location: Charlotte

One of my favorite spots in Charlotte Brewers at 4001 Yancey is a joint venture between Southern Tier, Sixpoint, Victory Brewing Company and Bold Rock Cidery. Located in LoSo they have a huge outdoor space perfect for dogs, a wide variety of beer, seltzers, ciders, cocktails, and delicious food. Plus there is parking which in Charlotte is always a bonus! View the menu here.

Location: Waynesville

In downtown Waynesville, you'll find Boojum Brewing. This taproom located in the shadow of the picturesque Smoky Mountains features delicious seasonal pub fare, a rotating menu of 16 house-brewed beers, as well as wine and cocktails. View the menu here.