First canine leader of the Joy in Childhood Foundation has been hired

The first ever canine leader for the Joy in Childhood Foundation from Baskin Robbins and Dunkin’ Donuts has been hired, as Cooper named Chief Joy Officer.

The Joy in Childhood Foundation has found their first ever canine leader. According to People Magazine, the charity from Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robbins has hired a friendly and professional golden retriever/chocolate lab mix named Cooper, as their Chief Joy Officer for the Dogs for Joy program.

The Dogs for Joy program works with dogs who have been specially trained to provide companionship and comfort to children who are sick and in need. And for Cooper’s part as the Chief Joy Officer, he will be helping to bring joy to kids in need, dealing with circumstances that would challenge even the hardest of adults. Which is why a dog is the perfect choice for such an important role, because pups bring joy and comfort.

With the purpose of the foundation being to help increase the number of “facility dog programs,” as well as bringing joy to pediatric patients around the country, it makes sense that they would look for a Chief Joy Officer. Not only does the canine leader get to act as a type of ambassador for the program, but he gets to work with sick and needy children.

As a canine leader for the foundation, Cooper will help the kids he works with to both gain confidence and feel strong within themselves. According to Kari McHugh, the Executive Director of the foundation, a typical work day for Cooper has him going, “to work every day at Dunkin’ Brands headquarters and is often spotted by the water cooler, sniffing out the latest news, attending meetings and barking his opinion, and sometimes can be caught taking the occasional nap in a friend’s cubicle.”

Of course that is not all his job entails, as he is considered an in-residence pup, which means he is cared for by a handler, typically involved in a program or working in a hospital. In the case of Cooper, McHugh is his handler, which means he attends events for the foundation, while also interacting with the many kids in need.

And his resume speaks for itself. (Yes, Cooper has his very own resume that the foundation and People shared with the world, and it is the cutest thing ever.)

In his resume, Cooper is described as being intelligent, playful, and energetic, but looking for a new opportunity that will allow him to spread joy on a daily basis. As part of what he is looking for in his new role, this canine leader said that he is, “open to engagements to further develop my companionship, loyalty, and healing skills in environments accepting of my occasional lopsided tongue, furry hugs, and cold nose.”

From consulting on donut flavors (even if he can’t eat them all), to making dreams come true for kids in need, Cooper is clearly a hard-working pup with a resume to back it up. Honestly, if we had seen his resume, he would have been hired on the spot, so we totally understand why he was awarded the Chief Joy Officer position.

We can’t wait to see what Cooper brings to the Joy in Childhood Foundation in his canine leadership role, and how he helps to expand the program further. And of course, we can’t wait to meet any new pups that are hired to work with Cooper down the line. Did you know that Cooper was one of the most popular dog names of 2018?