Golden PAWS donates Crisis Care Canine to Sheriff’s Office

Victim Advocate Jackie Borchers and Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk welcomed the newest recruit, a Crisis Care Canine named Readington, to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office during a recent “Hand-Off” ceremony at Golden PAWS Assistance Dogs

Instead of a salary and a squad car, the newest recruit at the Collier County Sheriff ’s Office will only expect the occasional treat and belly scratches.

Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk recently welcomed their latest “employee,” Golden PAWS Crisis Care Canine Readington, to the Sheriff ’s Office.

Readington won’t be tasked with tracking down criminal suspects or missing people. The 4-year-old Golden Retriever from Golden PAWS Assistance Dogs works with cuddles and caresses, not lights and sirens, de-escalating tense situations and providing comfort and emotional relief.

Rambosk added extra paws to the ranks to enhance the agency’s capacity to help victims and other individuals facing trauma and crisis.

“Crisis Care Canine Teams are a valuable tool for law enforcement and the citizens of Collier County,” Rambosk said. “Crisis Care Canines provide positive interactions and lower anxiety and stress of a victim who has been subject to a traumatic experience.”

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Readington is the Sheriff ’s Office’s only Crisis Care Canine. CCSO is among a small but growing number of law enforcement agencies that have added a Crisis Care Canine. The dogs have a proven track record of providing comfort and emotional support to individuals, especially children and law enforcement officers, during stressful and critical events.

Readington was donated to the Sheriff’s Office from Golden PAWS Assistance Dogs in Naples through the nonprofit’s new Crisis

Care Canine Program. The program integrates specially trained assistance dogs into Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Peer Support Teams in the community. These dogs are placed with law enforcement and EMS that hold and handle incident control positions. These highly skilled canines serve as invaluable working dogs who provide comfort, contributing to the well-being of both adults and children navigating traumatic experiences.

Readington is assigned to Victim Advocate Jackie Borchers, a 23-year Sheriff’s Office veteran who is his handler and responsible for his daily needs. Readington was officially turned over to the Sheriff’s Office during a special “Hand-Off” ceremony on June 6 at the Ken & Susan Meyer Center for Golden PAWS Assistance Dogs in Naples.

“We are delighted to support our community by providing Readington to the Collier County Sheriff ’s Office,” said Jeannie Bates, founder and CEO of Golden PAWS Assistance Dogs. “By harnessing the unique bond between humans and dogs, Readington aims to provide invaluable support, comfort and companionship to those facing the most challenging of circumstances. We look forward to the positive impact Readington will have on the community as he and Jackie embark on their mission of care and compassion.”

Before joining the Sheriff ’s Office, Readington had to complete an extensive and specialized training program that began when he arrived at the Golden PAWS training academy at 8 weeks old. Borchers also received specialized training.

As a Crisis Care Canine, Readington’s duties include comforting child and adult victims of trauma; assisting in forensic interviews with children; comforting grieving families during death notifications; and calming individuals in crisis.

Readington will be utilized across the agency and respond to scenes as needed. He will be used extensively by the agency’s Special Crimes Bureau and INTERCEPT Task Force and Victim Services Bureau, which handle cases involving the most serious types of victimization, with many of the victims being children. Some of the situations Readington will be used will be at scenes of search warrants where children are involved, or during interviews with a child or adult victim of a sex crime.

“Readington can visit with the victim before the interview and completely change their mood, reassuring them before having to recount a traumatic event,” said Lt. Wade Williams of the INTERCEPT Task Force and Victim Services Bureau. “We are really excited to utilize him in different situations to help mitigate some of the trauma for victims of serious violent crimes such as sexual abuse and child abuse.”

In his brief time with CCSO, Readington has already developed bonds with certified and civilian members.

“Readington is a terrific addition to the CCSO family,” Rambosk said. “I look forward to the comfort and attention Readington can bring to victims in our community and the therapeutic effects he can help provide to our deputies. This is just one more way I am working to provide the best service for our community.” ¦

The post Golden PAWS donates Crisis Care Canine to Sheriff’s Office first appeared on Bonita Springs Florida Weekly .