Facility Dog Gizmo Doesn’t Miss a Beat with his Support

One of the newly hired staff members of the Coon Rapids Police Department recently had a swearing-in ceremony with the city mayor. During the pre-meeting, the rookie officer was so excited that he gave the mayor a big, wet kiss on the lips.

Luckily, the action wasn’t too awkward or inappropriate because the affectionate staff member was Facility Dog Gizmo, a black Lab. Gizmo’s handler, John, says, “This was funny but also seemed like a way for Gizmo to say ‘Thank you’ and show his appreciation for his new job.”

This new gig has Gizmo promoting wellness to members of the police department and community. John explains, “This is a unique opportunity in our police department. We have never had a Facility Dog or anything similar.” He was interested in helping to develop this program because he says, “I love dogs, and I care about my coworkers and their well-being. I understand the effects of the job on people’s mental health and how having a dog around can bring positivity.”

Gizmo brings that positivity through his skills of “visiting,” by resting his chin on the lap of someone who is sitting, and “snuggling,” by lying down and placing his front legs across the lap of someone sitting on the floor. He is also trained to pick up dropped items and recognize and interrupt signs of anxiety to prevent escalation. 

John and Gizmo start their workday mornings with 8 a.m. detective roll call. John says that his trusty partner “roams the room, which has about 10 people meeting and catching up on current cases. Gizmo gives attention to everyone and starts their day with a smile.” Afterward, as they head to their office, Gizmo passes and interacts with patrol officers who are writing reports. Then, throughout the day, John keeps an ear tuned for other needs. “As I monitor the police radio throughout the day, I listen for incidents that are difficult or traumatic for the officers involved. I try to seek those officers out later in the day and see how they are doing and give them a chance to interact with Gizmo.”

The pair primarily work in the Police Department building and City Hall, but they also travel throughout the community. John shares that Gizmo has even attended a couple of critical incident debriefings, lending support to his co-workers. 

One of those co-workers is Emily, who is a secondary handler for Gizmo, helping out when John is on vacation or cannot get Gizmo to where he is needed at the time. 

John’s time, both in his work life and family life, is active. “At home, I live a busy life with two young kids, my wife, and another dog. Gizmo fits right in and is so patient with the kids who are always running and playing. Gizmo is my shadow; he follows me wherever I go.”

As John expresses his thanks to the people who shadowed Gizmo in his upbringing, he reassures them, saying, “He gets lots of attention and supports a group of wonderful people.”

John deeply cares about his co-workers and says, “Being Gizmo’s handler and put in a position to think about the wellness of all staff members has been positive for me. It’s made me care more about others and think about ways to better serve the department and the community.”

While John looks forward to expanding Gizmo’s role to include more community involvement soon, he confidently states, “He has already changed so much in a positive way.”

 

Thank you to all those who made this partnership possible:

Whelping Home — The Kittock Family
Raisers — Lindsey Kromann, Rebeca Sharpe
Special Thanks — Federal Correctional Institution-Sandstone,
University of Minnesota FETCH Program (Olivia Goonan)
Name-A-Puppy Donor — Mike Ferber and Betty Otto