Happy Retirement, Fletcher!

Fletcher at graduation (2015)

“Fletcher was a huge help, the kids give him a 10 out of 10.” - Zebra Caregiver

After nearly eight years of service at the Zebra Centre, Fletcher has hung up his vest for a well-deserved retirement. 

In 2015, Fletcher graduated from Dogs With Wings Assistance Dog Society and was placed at the Zebra Centre where he joined mother-daughter duo, Fossey and Wren, as the third facility dog on the Centre’s Very Important Paws (VIP) team.

Fletcher worked primarily at the Edmonton Law Courts. He would be there alongside children and youth while they testify on stand in the courtroom or to comfort them in the child-friendly waiting rooms.

Over the course of his career, Fletcher helped 1614 children and youth who had experienced abuse to discover their inner strength and find hope in challenging times.

“I remember a trial I did at court with a teenager some years ago. She had a very difficult time on the stand. We returned to our waiting room and she ran into the washroom and curled up in a fetal position,” Fletcher’s handler Sarah shared. 

Fletcher & Sarah in the courtroom (2021)

“Fletcher took it upon himself to go into the washroom and he began to lick the tears from her face. They sat on the floor and cuddled for around 10 minutes while her breathing slowly returned to normal. After a while, she stood up, took his leash, and said ‘let’s go back into court and finish this.’ The power and comfort in the presence of a dog is amazing!”

Fletcher notably collected a number of impressive accolades in our community- he became the first dog to accompany a child on the stand in a jury trial in Alberta and he was awarded as a Top Dog of Edmonton in 2022 to name a few.

Sarah and Fletcher were also awarded the Community Justice Award in recognition of the outstanding work they have done together at the Zebra Centre and the Edmonton Law Courts.

Our Zebra Herd is overwhelmed with pride because of Fletcher and the impact his nearly 8 years of service have made in our community. His kind heart has helped many find strength and brought hope to those who’ve needed it most.

Thank you Fletcher for making an impactful difference as a best friend and hero to many in our community. It has been an honour have you on our team and watch you change lives for the better.

Congrats and happy retirement, Fletch!