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Hank joined Wayne Police Chief Ryan Strong’s family at the end of April 2023.
New police therapy

dog in training

By Sarah Shurge tion, and observation from trained
In October 2022, the Wayne Po- testers in various settings, the de-
lice Department’s therapy dog, Zeke, partment said.
tragically and suddenly passed away Zeke joined the Wayne Police De-
after a short battle with cancer. How- partment in 2019. He received 24
ever, the therapy dog program did weeks of obedience training before
not end with Zeke. being given an obedience test. After
Zeke inspired therapy dog pro- that, he underwent a series of obser-
grams at multiple other police de- vations by ATD while visiting various
partments, and after taking time to public places, such as a hospital and
grieve and mourn his loss, the Wayne a psychiatric facility. He was also ob-
Police Department is excited to an- served at the police department.
nounce that there is a new therapy ATD provides support to those
dog in training. who use dogs to visit nursing homes,
Hank, a five-month-old Golden hospitals, schools, and other facili-
Retriever, joined Wayne Police Chief ties where a dog could provide com-
Ryan Strong’s family at the end of fort to others. “I’m super excited for
April 2023. the training process with Hank,”
“It was tough getting another dog. said Chief Strong. “The first step is
I still miss Zeke,” said Chief Strong. socialization. I’ve been bringing him
“But the therapy dog program was so to the station once or twice a week.
important to the department and to He’s doing really well. He met the of-
me, I knew we needed a new one. I ficers and brightens everyone's day
wanted to get the new process going even though he’s not certified yet.”
for the department and the commu- Hank can't be certified as a ther-
nity.” apy dog until he is one year old,
According to Alliance of Therapy which will be in March. However,
Dogs (ATD), therapy dogs can reduce Chief Strong stated that everybody is
stress and anxiety, provide compan- thrilled to have a new dog around.
ionship, and help people get through “We started obedience classes for
emotionally trying times. a few months and then therapy dog
“Police work is difficult. We see a certification will be closer towards
lot of stressful things and people on winter,” said Chief Strong. “He’s
the worst day of their lives. Having a doing well in his classes and has a
therapy dog around relieves stress good attention span. Hank is a good
and brightens everyone's day,” said dog, he’s just a different kind. Hank
Chief Strong. “It’s hard to have a bad is more driven with wanting to learn
day when there's a Golden Retriever the training while Zeke was more
walking up to you.” laid back. It’s been fun.”
Therapy dogs must undergo obe- Good luck to Hank and his train-
dience testing, veterinarian certifica- ing process!
The Wayne Dispatch · August 2023 · 5