Knowing the impact that therapy animals have with people, Shelly approached the St. Petersburg Police Department with the idea of using Amos to help teach bullying prevention. Amos had already been working with the world famous Harlem Globetrotters, presenting a community-based program at schools, where Shelly had seen firsthand how children of all ages reacted when Amos joined the program. After the initial excitement of seeing a horse in a basketball jersey and sneakers walk into an auditorium, hundreds of children would listen in hushed anticipation. Then hands would dart into the air to ask questions and to participate.

The SPPD was interested in seeing how the program would work. After presentations at a local Police Athletic League after-school program and in front of a variety of police brass, the program was immediately approved. Amos was given a vest, an ID card and a badge and he became a volunteer equine officer, joining Officer Janie Staples. Together they visited thousands of children in Bay Area schools, teaching bullying prevention.

At the urging of other therapy teams, Shelly created a program that could be used “right out of the box.” In addition to the collateral materials, Shelly provides nonprofit consulting for teams who are interested in public relations, special events, sponsorships, and development. To date, the Just Say Whoa® to Bullying program has over 25 teams across the country, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.