Police therapy dog, officer therapy dog, comfort dog…
Those are all work titles for hero pups… dogs that provide emotional support to victims and those in need.
We don’t hear a lot about these furry heroes. Usually, their trained K9 buddies take over the scene.
However, I strongly believe that comfort dogs should raise their voice and become rightfully as popular as canine pawtners chasing criminals.
When crisis situations arise, comfort pups are first on the scene with their hooman partners.
When victims of violence of any kind need a shoulder to cry on and someone to rely on during legal processes, comfort pups are there, too!
They have an important role and a job unlike any other pup.
The Taunton Police Department realized they needed to improve their lines. They needed backup, but not just any kind.
They needed a new comfort pup!
Behold, Maggie has arrived, and she just couldn’t be any cuter!
Could Maggie Be The Cutest Police Comfort Pup Ever?
Once known as the Silver City – Taunton, Massachusetts, a small city in Bristol County, is a lovely place for living. But, even in such lovely places, accidents happen, violence happens, and victims struggle to survive.
The Taunton Police Department is always busy, so they figured out they need an extra pair of helping hands. Little did anyone know that those hands would actually be… PAWS!
May was Mental Health Awareness Month, during which, we pay extra attention to both our mental health and the mental health of the entire community. It was the pawfect time to introduce Maggie to her new hometown!
Maggie, a Golden Retriever puppy, arrived at Taunton at 9 weeks of age from Golden Opportunities for Independence (GOFI), in Walpole.
Some might say that she is just a young puppy that knows nothing, but that’s the deal. It’s too late to teach a dog how to be a comfort pup once he grows up. Specialized trainers pick puppies with the most potential and train them young, so they grow up learning.
Maggie is one of those special pups. She will learn how to control her emotions, soak up others’ feelings, and channel them into something pawsitive.
The cutest little Golden Retriever girl will have lots of help, too, because she can’t go through a training program on her own. Taunton Police Co-Response Clinician, Katrina Lee, will be her partner and take GOFI’s Community Resource Dog training program.
And, Maggie has good predispositions to succeed. Named after Taunton Police Department’s first female police officer, Margaret Stevens, new Maggie is already showing talent.
“We are excited to welcome Maggie to our department where she will work alongside our mental health co-response clinician to provide comfort and support to those in crisis. Police departments across the nation are welcoming comfort dogs into their ranks, and the feedback has truly been amazing. We hope that Maggie will help to bridge connections between our department and the public, while simultaneously being a calming presence to all,” said the Chief of the Station, Walsh.
Seems like Maggie enjoys her new workspace a lot. She has already made a lot of friends, and has shared her unique talent with them.
The sweetest little girl is growing bigger with each new day.
She loves practicing commands when around new people.
Giving support to police veterans.
And, trying out her new uniform!
Maggie’s role is meaningful and more important than we all realize. The public will never be aware of the difference these dogs bring to people in need. Comfort dogs learn how to manifest stressful situations into something positive. |1|
We all wish Maggie a successful career and many broken spirits mended.
You can follow her police adventures here on Instagram!
Sources:
|1| Garvey, Adrienne S, Working Through Trauma: The Use of Comfort Dogs in Television Newsrooms. 2021. DOI
