Man’s best friend is more than a furry companion; many Canadians rely on service dogs every day to live happy and healthy lives. Here are four remarkable pups making a significant impact.
Taffy, a three-year-old Golden Retriever, works with the Saskatoon Police Service's Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE) to find electronic devices during warrant searches. "The introduction of Taffy as a resource for investigators greatly increases our ability to locate these and hold offenders accountable," says Staff Sgt. Tim Failler. Taffy is also trained as a therapy dog, helping to comfort police officers and victims of crime.
Betty and Misty, a pair of black Labradors, provide comfort to paramedics at Medavie. “They are really just here in the office to bring comfort and joy to frontline paramedics or our shared services staff,” says Angela Serda, senior manager at Medavie Mobile Integrated Health.
Ollie, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, helps his owner, war veteran Kevin Hicks, cope with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). “If I get too stressed, Ollie will pick up on that straight away, and his head’s there, and he’s pushing me. And it breaks the cycle in no time at all,” Hicks says.
It’s crucial to respect these service dogs by not petting them, as it can distract them from their vital tasks.