Celebrating the first police therapy dog in Iowa
Zosia, a cherished member of the ISU Police and university community, passed away on Dec. 2, 2024. The golden retriever lived to the age of 13 years and nine months (human years).
Zosia was born in Poland on March 8, 2011, and lived at Iron Hill Retrievers in Delmar, Iowa, for the first five years of her life. She had a few litters of puppies, including many who followed in her footsteps to service dog organizations. She was the best mom.
Zosia found her forever home with Kinsey Hauser and her family and was certified as a therapy dog in October 2017. Zosia volunteered at multiple organizations in Story County and warmed the hearts of many.
After her owner joined the ISU Police as the mental health advocate supervisor in 2019, Zosia became the department’s first certified therapy dog and the first therapy dog to work at a police department in the state of Iowa. She served more than five years before retiring in May of 2024.
Her duties included supporting individuals working through mental health concerns and difficult experiences. She also responded to crisis calls, visited classrooms and residence halls, helped with mental health training, and greeted incoming students at orientation.
She is survived by her owner Kinsey Hauser and her family, her grandson Zebediah, and great granddaughters Sydni and Lena. Her legacy lives on through her grandson Zebediah and great-granddaughters Sydni and Lena who work with the Iowa State University Police Department.
