The American Red Cross recently welcomed two new volunteers in the Kansas and Oklahoma Region: Marissa and Sullivan Hill. These disaster workers were among the over 100 Red Crossers who worked around the clock to help Oklahomans affected by wildfires in March.

It was Marissa and Sullivan’s first disaster relief operation, and they started it by sheltering people in Luther, Oklahoma. They also helped connect people with recovery support.

Well, Marissa did those things. Sullivan is an 11-year-old Australian shepherd.

While Sullivan can’t run a shelter or work a computer to build a client case, he is a certified therapy dog. He excels at receiving pets and making anyone around him feel more at ease. His furry face and friendly demeanor are invaluable assets during disaster response. He even has his own Red Cross volunteer photo ID badge.

We asked Marissa to tell how she and Sullivan became Red Cross volunteers. What follows is their story as Marissa tells it.

On Nov. 4, 2024, a tornado came through our little town of Harrah. I saw a post that the American Red Cross was setting up a shelter for those who were impacted and wanted to learn how I could help. I submitted an application, and that’s where our incredible journey began. Joining the Red Cross has opened a new door for us to make new connections and learn new skills. 

I have been a volunteer for several different organizations. I first fell in love with volunteering in Kentucky at the Hopkinsville Community College (HCC) as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honors society. Our chapter did a lot of community outreach projects. I knew that it was something that I wanted to continue doing as much as I could! 

After I graduated from HCC, I enrolled at Arizona State University. That’s where my volunteering really took off. I joined the Central AZ Chapter for Conservation Biology Club, the Wild at Heart Raptor Rescue and the Phoenix Zoo Volunteer groups. I participated in several projects, such as field surveys, water cleanups, bird banding and creating artificial habitats for burrowing owls. 

On one of our trips, I met a dog that struck me as a little unusual. The dog was very friendly and outgoing toward the students, but there was something missing that made her stand out to me: She didn't have a tail! The entire trip, I couldn't stop thinking about our tail-less little guide and thought that I would love to have a dog just like that one day. 

I did a lot of research, preparing and waiting. I had never had a dog of my own and wanted to make sure that everything would be perfect for my new little addition. I purchased Sullivan from a wonderful breeder named Shelby Tunnell at the Rockin’ Diamond T Ranch. 

Sullivan and I instantly became inseparable. His training stated the moment I brought him home. He was intended to become a service dog, and there’s a lot of work that goes into training these dogs. I also wanted to do dog sports with him — more activities that involve serious training. 

Over the past 10 years, Sullivan and I have done agility, barn hunt, rally, obedience, herding, disc, dock diving and scent work. He has many titles and accomplishments behind his name! As Sullivan started getting older and slowing down in sports, I knew I needed to find something new to keep him busy.

Sullivan is unique as a service dog. They’re usually hands-off, no talk, no touch and no eye contact. Not him! He has always shown an interest in interacting with the people around me. I noticed that it even made him a little sad when I asked for people not to interact with him in public.

I reached out to a friend, who suggested that I try therapy dog work with Sullivan. I did some research and learned that it was uncommon for service dogs to also be therapy dogs. But I knew my dog was special! 

I reached out to a tester for the Alliance of Therapy Dogs and scheduled our test. Sullivan passed with flying colors, and we were off to a new chapter in our lives! We also passed our test to become an official team at the Integris Hospital and have done visits at the local university. Now, we’re preparing for the upcoming storm season and will be there as Red Cross volunteers, ready to help when needed!