EUSTIS, Florida—Sometimes the nudge of a cold, wet nose can make even the worst things a little bit better.
Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri recognizes that and now the department has a new furry friend.
Echo, a 1-year-old, mixed breed Aussie (Australian Shepherd) and American bulldog has joined the force at EPD—not as an employee, but as a friend and therapy dog, EPD Police Support Coordinator Pam Gordon told Inside Lake Thursday afternoon. . EPD is the first city police department in Lake County to welcome a therapy dog to its ranks; the Lake County Sheriff’s Office has three therapy dogs.
Echo lives at EPD full-time to keep the employees company and give them an avenue to help relieve the high stress that comes with working for a law enforcement agency, Capri said.
Echo’s new life at EPD was made possible by several organizations. He was donated to EPD by Angie Klein of the Humane Society of Lake County after completing the prison training program at Hardee Correctional Institution through the Greyhound Advancement Center. During the program, dogs are paired with an inmate, and they live together while the dog learns basic and intermediate obedience, such as sit, stay, come and walking on a leash without pulling, increasing the adoptability of the dog, according to Facebook post by the Humane Society of Lake County.
Echo’s training and therapy vest were donated by Joanne Hart-Rittenhouse of PAWS Therapy Dogs, a non-profit organization based in Eustis and serving Lake County, Gordon said.
In addition to helping employees, Echo will be taking part in a victim therapy training soon, so he is prepared to help victims, as needed. He will stay at EPD, but victims can be brought to the department to be comforted by the pup, Capri said.
Echo, who was originally named Jack, got his new name from the employees of the police department after Capri took a survey, he told Inside Lake. “The department named him,” he said. “He’s part of the EPD family.”
All the employees, both civilian and sworn officers, enjoy having him around. They have all chipped in for his care and take turns walking him, Capri said.
“How do you not fall in love with Echo?” he said. “He is a great stress reliever. Police work is a very stressful job; anything we can do for the welfare of our officers.”
Echo has already had a direct effect on Capri “I see Echo and things aren’t so bad.”
EPD has created an Amazon wish list for Echo’s needs. If you’d like to donate, visit Echo’s Wish List.
