Welcome to the squad, Blue!
The Appleton Police Department has added Blue, a 12-week-old golden doodle puppy, to its nationally recognized volunteer program.
If Blue passes all of his training courses, he will be "on-duty" next spring, making him the only known "station dog" in Wisconsin, according to the department. Blue will be a therapy dog, tasked with improving the well-being of the Appleton Police Department personnel.
The adorable puppy will also "occasionally be used as a therapy dog in the community." Police Chief Todd Thomas and his family will take care of Blue.
“Our profession has learned the hard way that it is not just the significant events which can cause emotional trauma and long term issues; but is also the daily challenges we face, sometimes called “1,000 small cuts”, which have the biggest impact on all of our employees," Thomas said in a statement.
“Blue is another resource, which we hope can help to protect our employees from these cuts and improve their overall wellness.”
