A mischievous pooch that was sacked from guide-dog training for being too naughty landed the “ideal” job as a police therapy dog.
River, a five-year-old labrador, wasn’t considered the right fit for a job supporting blind and partially sighted people, due to her passion for running off to chase squirrels.
Luckily, she wasn't out of work for long, as her kind nature marked her out as a great candidate to be a therapy animal.
River will lead a pilot project assisting staff at Maidstone Police Station in Kent.
Sergeant Ian Sutton said: “We are often dealing with people in crisis and although their behaviour has resulted in arrest, they could be suffering with depression, anxiety or mental illness.
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“Young people may find themselves in custody too and in some cases they are scared and daunted by the experience, whilst others may have difficulty in communicating.
“Being detained can exacerbate these issues and we are committed to ensure that police custody is a safe and supportive environment for both police, staff and detainees.
“We are always looking for new or innovative ways to achieve this.”
River will only assist in cases where detainees are vulnerable or in need of support to help them be processed through custody.
The affordable custody canine is well qualified for the job, having been accredited as a therapy dog by the Pets as Therapy organisation in 2016.
She also previously spent time supporting children in a special educational needs school, before taking up her new role.
Kent Police's dog unit trainers assessed River to ensure she had the resilience to cope with the rigours of police work, passing the assessment in December.
“River has joined the team to offer emotional support to people who are experiencing difficulties, she provides a therapeutic benefit to those in crisis and helps to counter some of the negative behaviour we sometimes experience in custody,” Sgt Sutton added.
“Since beginning work with us she has had a notable positive impact on those she has spent time and the atmosphere in custody improves when she is on shift.
“This allows staff and officers to use their time more effectively rather than diffusing situations.”
