Comfort dog partnership proposed | | northwestsignal.net – Napoleon Northwest Signal

Sunny to partly cloudy. High 64F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..
Clear skies. Low 41F. Winds light and variable.
Updated: September 29, 2022 @ 11:07 am
Sunny to partly cloudy. High 64F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..
Clear skies. Low 41F. Winds light and variable.
Updated: September 29, 2022 @ 11:07 am
A partnership between the Center for Child and Family Advocacy and City of Napoleon for a therapy/comfort dog was recommended to city council by the city’s Safety and Human Resources Committee earlier this week. The center recently purchased Hank, an Australian Shepherd puppy, to be trained as a certified therapy dog.

A partnership between the Center for Child and Family Advocacy and City of Napoleon for a therapy/comfort dog was recommended to city council by the city’s Safety and Human Resources Committee earlier this week. The center recently purchased Hank, an Australian Shepherd puppy, to be trained as a certified therapy dog.
A partnership between the Center for Child and Family Advocacy (CCFA) and City of Napoleon for a therapy/comfort dog was recommended to city council by the city’s Safety and Human Resources Committee earlier this week.
Napoleon Police Chief David Mack said the discussions started earlier this year in the human resources department, along with the city manager, on forming a partnership with the local non-profit agency that provides victim’s advocate services, in addition to counseling and domestic violence and sex offender groups.
Mack said the victim’s advocate portion is what overlaps the most with the police department.
“They’re the ones that we’re calling out when we have a crime victim at 2 o’clock in the afternoon or 2 o’clock in the morning,” he said. “That’s really where these dogs can have significant assistance for us.”
Mack said the CCFA previously had a comfort dog that was recently retired and it was interested in receiving a new dog.
“The agency was very excited about trying to get another one and then having a partnership where you can share costs,” he added. “That’s always a benefit in today’s world where you can share that responsibility a little bit.”
The CCFA recently had the opportunity to purchase an Australian Shepherd puppy and did so solely with center funds, according to Mack, who noted that his wife, Roberta Mack, is the executive director of the CCFA. The dog, Hank, is staying in their home, and the plan is for both of them to be trained handlers.
Overall, Mack said the center has not asked to be reimbursed for the purchase cost of the dog and the proposal is to split costs moving forward, including health care for the dog, which he estimated to be approximately $1,000 a year as the Napoleon Veterinary Clinic has offered to discount their services for the program. He noted expenses such as food and possibly toys and bedding are expected to be covered by donations.
Hank will start training in November through a program offered by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and it will take approximately one year for him to be certified. The training is free, although Mack noted there will be travel expenses associated with the training.
Mack added the idea of a comfort or therapy dog is becoming more popular, with Napoleon Junior/Senior High School starting a program last year and St. Paul Lutheran Church and School looking into starting one this school year.
“Sadly, there’s enough (need) to go around,” he said, adding that there has been a 300% increase in mental health issues in Ohio since the same time frame last year, according to the center. The presentation for the dog also noted there are privacy concerns regarding victims of crime and utilizing an outside resource — such as a therapy dog from a school-based program — would have hurdles because of those privacy issues and different settings.
Mack said he sees the dog not only helping victims of crime but also visiting the police department and other city offices to help employees cope with exposure to traumatic events and support efforts to increase resilience to improve mental health and wellness. He noted Hank has visited the police department a few times already.
“It’s a complete office change how individuals are interacting not only with the dog, but with each other,” he said. “It becomes a focus of what’s going on, not a distraction, but just a kind of a stress relief.
“Especially going through COVID and seeing some of the long shifts they’ve been getting, if I can do anything that kind of just relaxes them for a few minutes, that would be a huge benefit to help my dispatch and my officers,” he continued.
Committee chair Dan Baer noted, as attendance officer for Henry County Family Court, he has seen the difference a therapy dog can make in situations with juveniles.
“I had (the dog from Patrick Henry) at a few of the meetings that I have, and it does make a difference as far as calming the kids down,” Baer said.
Mack noted he is requesting a budget adjustment to purchase a vehicle that is set up for a K-9 from the Village of Deshler.
“What I plan on is putting my car on the road, and then I will take a car that we’re going to rotate out … next year,” he said. “So it’s a wash. There is no equipment costs in the grand scheme of things.”
On Monday, Deshler Village Council approved an ordinance, under the suspension of rules requiring three readings, authorizing the sale of a Ford Explorer that has a K-9 conversion. The vehicle will go on an online government auction site.
Overall, the plan would be to have Hank at the CCFA three days a week and at the city two days a week, but changes can be made depending on circumstances.
“That’s always flexible,” Mack said, adding the CCFA is located in the city so it will be a short drop-off or pick-up.
The partnership proposal now goes to city council.
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