OREM — A Utah man is helping the Utah Valley University community heal after Charlie Kirk was killed on campus.
He's bringing his therapy dogs to the halls of the college where students are trying to regain a sense of normalcy.
"I didn't feel safe enough to come back until I heard that there were dogs, and that made me feel comfortable to go back," said student Rachel Jensen.
Mike Carlson runs the Golden Healers nonprofit. He said he's doing this as a way to give back to the community during this time of crisis.
Carlson was in the hospital last week recovering from open-heart surgery.
"I was laying in bed two days after surgery, turned on the news, and I heard about the incident with Charlie Kirk, and I knew at that moment that I needed to get better quick, get out of bed and get moving so that I could get here to help the students and the staff and repay my debt to the community," he said.
KSL-TV did a story with Carlson before his operation. He desperately needed thousands of dollars to help pay for that operation.
"The community stepped up in a big way," he said. "It was absolutely incredible. And we were able to get the funds that we needed. And the hospital actually ended up working with us a little bit, too."
He said bringing the dogs to UVU is a way to give back.
"Dogs have a way of having no judgment against you," Carlson said. "It initially just opens up a door that you know, you may not have with the person. And, they're so relaxed and calm and collected when you approach them, they want to engage with you."
