Karen Storey is the founder and president of 4 Pawz Strong and the creator of Brighton Area Schools’ nationally recognized Pack of Social Emotional Learning Dogs. A longtime special educator and Livingston County community leader, Karen has seen firsthand how specially trained therapy dogs can bring comfort, connection and hope to people during difficult moments.
Based in Brighton, 4 Pawz Strong provides trained therapy dogs to schools, hospitals, law-enforcement agencies, community organizations and businesses. These dogs support students, staff members, first responders and community members by helping reduce stress, build trust and strengthen emotional well-being.
The organization’s roots are firmly planted in Livingston County, where community partnerships, donors and volunteers make each therapy-dog placement possible.
Our recent therapy-dog placements show how 4 Pawz Strong’s mission reaches both across the country and right here at home. We donated a therapy dog to Apalachee High School in Georgia to support students and staff as their school community continues to heal following an unimaginable tragedy. This dog provides a calming presence, comfort and unconditional love when students need it most.
Closer to home, we donated Teddy, a community therapy dog, to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office. Under the leadership of Sheriff Mike Murphy, Teddy supports deputies, corrections staff, individuals at the Livingston County Jail and members of the community. Whether helping a student through a difficult day or bringing calm to a stressful situation at the jail, these dogs remind people that they are supported and never alone.
These placements reflect the heart of 4 Pawz Strong: creating meaningful connections and bringing comfort wherever it is needed.