Mystic — Rosie, a black Labrador Retriever, was working to become a police dog, but after the initial training, she was found to lack the aggression needed for the job.

At approximately a year old, she was then paired with disabled Navy veteran Barry Russack, a retired master chief, and she began training to become a service and therapy dog.

On Thursday, 7-year-old Rosie and Russack, of Groton, were among nine AmeriCorps volunteers presented with President’s Volunteer Service Awards by U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, and Michael Smith, chief executive officer of AmeriCorps.

“I am here today on behalf of President Biden to say thank you for what you’re doing; thank you for the way that you serve your community and the way you serve one another. AmeriCorps is proud to be a partner in the work that you do,” Smith told Rosie, Russack and the other award recipients gathered at the Mystic Congregational Church.

During the semi-monthly Thames Valley Council for Community Action Retired Senior Volunteer Program Veterans’ Coffeehouse, Courtney and Smith presented Rosie with a Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award, a pin and medal, for volunteering 598 hours in the last two years as a therapy dog, offering comfort, support and companionship to community members.

Russack, 79, said that Rosie has also been trained to alert to fluctuations in body chemistry like low blood sugar, though she was in therapy dog mode on Thursday, as she greeted coffeehouse attendees with kisses before rolling onto her back to be scratched on the stomach by many of them.

Therapy dogs, like other service animals, go through extensive training to provide emotional support and and foster a calming environment, and are often taken to hospitals, schools, or disaster areas where they help to reduce stress and boost morale.

Russack said that Rosie, who celebrated a birthday July 1, is a wonderful companion and has a special affinity for children and babies.

“I don’t know what I would do without her,” he said.

Russack, who received a Lifetime President’s Volunteer Service Award, and the eight other award recipients volunteer in various capacities including at coffeehouses in southeastern Connecticut.

The award, established by former President George W. Bush in 2002, honors individuals or families that have shown exceptional volunteer service and civic engagement. Bronze, silver and gold levels of the award are determined based on the recipient's age range. Lifetime achievement award recipients must have at least 4,000 documented volunteer hours.

AmeriCorps, a federal volunteer service program created in 1994 that boasts over 200,000 members, gets people involved in community service to tackle social issues in a diverse range of projects and activities that make a positive impact on communities through service projects.

The AmeriCorps Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is designed for individuals aged 55 and older. It gives seniors a chance to use their skills and experience to help the community through different volunteer activities like tutoring, mentoring, supporting veterans, and helping during disasters.

Other Lifetime Award recipients included Air Force veterans Walter Keach and Noreen Arao, Coast Guard veteran Susan McArdle, and Navy veterans Gus Zupka and Gary Miller.

Carol Coyle, the family member of a veteran, and Peter Kulas, father of an active-duty military member, received Bronze awards.

Before he left, Courtney took some questions and provided the veterans with a legislative update on issues impacting them including information on the PACT Act, which expands Veteran’s Administration health care and benefits to veterans exposed to Agent Orange and other toxic substances and expands the list of benefit qualifying health issues presumed to be caused by the substances.

Coffeehouses are held twice a month in Groton, Montville, Mystic, New London, Norwich and Pawcatuck. For more information on the RSVP Veterans’ Coffeehouses, contact Coordinator James Hodge at (860)425-6615 or by email at Jhodge@tvcca.org.