Police In Crises To Receive Station Dogs From K9s For Warriors

Press release from The JAX Chamber:

“K9s For Warriors knows the positive power that the companionship of a dog can bring to those who most need it. We see it every day in the veterans we help heal through this companionship and it is so rewarding for K9s to be able to provide these station dogs to serve our local police,” said Rory Diamond, K9s For Warriors’ Chief Executive Officer.

Ponte Vedra-based nonprofit K9s For Warriors, whose mission is to serve disabled veterans, is giving back to others who serve selflessly while in uniform. In a ceremony being held tomorrow at Jacksonville Beach, FL, the organization will donate three dogs to First Coast Police Departments: Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach and Jacksonville Beach.

K9s For Warriors will donate one dog each to each of the three police departments in an effort not only to benefit the department, but to provide the dogs a new supportive, family environment that can benefit from the companionship. The dogs, Jamie going to JBPD, Duke going to NBPD, and C4 going to ABPD, will now be referred to as ‘station dogs’ in their new environment.

“Officer Wellness is a top priority for the Atlantic Beach Police Department,” said ABPD Commander Tiffany Layson. “Being able to partner with K9s For Warriors to get a facility dog has added another positive component to our overall wellness program. We hope that spending a little time with our new dog, whether it’s tossing a ball down the hallway or taking her for a walk, will give our first responders a tool to decompress and destress on a daily basis.”

In scenarios similar to those encountered by US military veterans, American police officers face increased rates of suicide and self-harm, increases in officer turnover and attrition, revocation of benefit plans, hostility against police unions, and even overt physical attacks. The Police Executive Research Forum reports that police departments “are now facing a crisis in their ability to recruit new officers.”

“It’s beyond rewarding for us to give back to others in uniform who so valiantly serve and protect us,” said Patty Dodson, K9s For Warriors’ Chief of Staff and General Counsel. “We have keen insight into the power of dogs to alleviate stress and foster emotional wellbeing. We’re honored to provide our vital police departments with a new, four-legged team member who may be able to promote the department’s overall wellness.”

To care for and integrate the dog, the police departments have a plan in place that includes, but is not limited to:

• identify person/persons with primary responsibility for management/care of facility dog• determine a settled place for the dog - where it will spend most of its time• facilitate routine exposure of dog in group organizational contexts• encourage voluntary program opportunities with dog (exercise, group interactions)• officially and unofficially make the dog “one of the team."

Details regarding the ceremony can be found below:

K9s For Warriors donates dogs to local police precinctsContact: Phone: Email: Carl Cricco, CMO - K9s For Warriors 646.287.5098 ccricco@k9sforwarriors.orgWhat/Who: K9s For Warriors, the First Coast nonprofit that trains Service Dogs for veterans, is taking initiative to place one dog each in three local police stations to support our first responders. The recipient stations are Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach and Jacksonville Beach police departments, who will receive their new Station Dogs in a ceremony.When: Where: Tuesday, December 22nd 10 a.m. 501 Penman Road South, Jacksonville Beach, FL (Wingate Football Fields)

*Media Availability*• Rory Diamond, K9s For Warriors CEO• Chief Gene Paul Smith, JBPD (Station Dog Jamie)• Chief Richard Pike, NBPD (Station Dog Duke)• Chief Victor Gualillo, ABPD (Station Dog C4)

About K9s For WarriorsK9s For Warriors’ mission is to end veteran suicide. Based in Florida, we are the nation’s largest provider of Service Dogs to military veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury and/or Military Sexual Trauma. Our program is unique, comprehensive, and proven, thanks to groundbreaking research conducted in partnership with Purdue University’s OHAIRE Lab. The majority of our Service Dogs come from high-kill shelters, which means that with each warrior-K9 pairing, two lives are saved.

Find more information at www.k9sforwarriors.org.

This press release was produced by The JAX Chamber. The views expressed here are the author’s own.