A miniature horse is inspiring children and nursing home residents across the Sunshine State. Amos, the miniature horse, was on hand with St. Petersburg Police Officer Janie Staples at Perkins Elementary in St. Petersburg. The unlikely duo, talked about strangers, staying closer to your parents, and bullying. The name of the talk? “Just say whoa to strangers.”
Amos is an official volunteer with SPPD with an official ID card to prove it. The miniature horse is the adopted pet of Shelly Mizrahi, who decided to share him with the world.
Amos is trained as a therapy horse and visits schools and nursing homes statewide. Shelly said it’s fun for everyone.
“It’s awesome! You know, first of all, they’re not used to seeing a pony in the parlor. So they come down to the living room or maybe we go into their room,” shelly said. “And it’s just an awesome thing when someone tells you that, you know, you made their day.”
Amos’s resume is pretty lengthy. He has his own Facebook page, Twitter account, has appeared on the Today Show and has played basketball with none other than the Harlem Globetrotters.
Officer Staples said she wouldn’t trade Amos for anything.
“He’s been the best partner ever to work with,” Officer Staples said. “He doesn’t talk back, he doesn’t give me a hard time. Well, sometimes he won’t play basketball but that’s what carrots are for.”