DES MOINES, Iowa — May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and EveryStep has a new member of its staff offering a paw to those in need.

“Louie is our is EveryStep’s therapy dog in training. He’s about 10 months old. We got him back in December and he is currently training and serving our organization internally right now and bringing lots of love and comfort to folks,” said EveryStep Foundation Executive Director Julie Matternas. “You can just see the love and compassion in him. And, I think, you know, his handler has had to limit treats internally because everyone would want to give him treats. But he’s really settled into his routine.”

When Louie the golden retriever is fully trained, he’ll work with programs such as the Amanda the Panda House, where he will support clients experiencing grief and loss.

To keep up with Louie’s journey, follow him on Instagram at @pawswithlouie.