Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) members have welcomed a new four-legged part of their team.
Unlike his canine colleagues, though, Ranger will not be sniffing for bad guys but rather providing support and comfort to officers.
Ranger is an 18-month-old Labrador-Golden Retriever cross, and he is part of the OPP's new Wellness Service Dog Program. He will be based at the Essex County detachment.
The dog will be used in a variety of tasks across the OPP, including member wellness visits, critical incident debriefing, supporting the OPP Healthy Workplace Team and social workers, police funerals and memorial services, and visits to the Provincial Communications Centre.
"Ranger has already made a tremendous impact within our organization," said OPP Essex Detachment Commander Mark Loucas. "Our members face unique and often challenging situations, and having a resource like Ranger, who brings comfort, connection, and calm, adds an important layer to our wellness strategy."
Ranger was raised through the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, based in Oakville. He stayed with a foster family for one year, after which he was specially trained as a Facility Dog.
The foundation trains dogs in seven specialties, which are Canine Vision, Hearing, Service, Seizure Response, Autism Assistance, Diabetes Alert, and Facility Support. The training facility in Breslau is the only one in Canada that provides training in all seven disciplines.
