01945 Spring 2021

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A paws for comfort
BY GAYLA CAWLEY
A plush cuddly toy with origins in
Marblehead is now widely used by New
England police and fire departments for
its ability to provide comfort to children
in crisis.
Trouble the Dog was an inspiration
flash for Sheila Duncan one night in 2006
when she was at home with her niece
watching the St. Jude Telethon.
The fundraising event to continue
the fight against childhood cancer and
other life-threatening diseases sparked
a conversation among Duncan's family
members who had suffered several recent
cancer losses, including the father and
grandmother of Duncan's niece and their
family dog.
"(My niece) was doodling and the St.
Jude Telethon came on, and she said, 'I have
to help those kids,' and she instantly drew
Trouble the Dog," said Duncan. "It was one
of those divinely-inspired moments."
From there Duncan started the Kennek
Foundation, which donates the comfort
toys to children who need them the most.
Duncan said people would request Trouble
the Dog for kids who had been bullied or
were struggling with anxiety.
She credits Gary Freedman, owner of
Marblehead Opticians, for helping the
Kennek Foundation get its start in 2014 —
he's been a donor from day one, she said.
Today, Trouble the Dog plush toys and
its accompanying storybook are donated to
first responders across New England and to
Shriners Hospitals for Children in Boston
and Springfield.
In Springfield, Trouble has its own
spot on the hospital's wall of therapy dogs,
Duncan said.
"I think the thing that really warms
my heart is how grateful the first
responders are," said Duncan. "They're just
phenomenal. The stories just bring tears to
your eyes because they use Trouble right at
the moment of impact. It's really powerful.
I'm grateful to be able to do it. It's much
bigger than me."
The Marblehead Police Department
benefited from another donation of Trouble
the Dog toys this past summer, which
enabled the department to continue to keep
one of the stuffed animals in each patrol car
and at the police station, according to Police
Capt. Matthew Freeman.
Since receiving their first donation
Marblehead Police Officer Andy Clark accepts a
Trouble the Dog toy from Sheila Duncan, to help
traumatized children.
PHOTO COURTESY SHEILA DUNCAN
about three years ago, Freeman said the
department's officers have used the stuffed
animals to calm children down after car
crashes and domestic violence situations.
They have also been provided to
children with behavioral issues who have
been acting out in school, he said.
"We use those to help out children who
are in crisis, or maybe where the family is
in crisis, to give them something to hold
onto or love," said Freeman. "It's a really
nice way to help kids stay calm or regain
their composure through a bad situation.
"We were all kids once. We all had
stuffed animals to hold onto when we were
afraid. Sheila has taken that to a whole new
level," he added.
Duncan stopped by the station last
August to drop off two additional Trouble
the Dog toys at the department's request
— her initial donation was 13 stuffed
animals, Freeman said.
"We're just thrilled to death to have
her think of us and continue to make the
donations," he said.
Duncan said she's found that first
responders are "so passionate about helping
kids and Trouble is a proven coping
mechanism that gives them the ability to
comfort kids when they need them the
most.
"He's a special little dog," she said. "We
call Trouble an angel in disguise because
there's a little magic to him. For years,
(children) won't go to sleep without Trouble
the Dog. He's got a spirit about him."