Page 21 - AUCSO Newsletter 5_Neat

Four-legged public servant joining university police

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Police Department is bringing a new
four-legged public servant into its
ranks.

Hershey, a black and white doodle
breed, is preparing to graduate from
Domesti-Pups and will assume
therapy dog duties with university
police.

Domesti-Pups is a Lincoln-based
organization that specializes in
canine training. The organization also prepares service and therapy dogs, which must go through a
rigorous process of training and testing before being certified and adopted. The organization
partners with the Nebraska Department of Corrections. The dogs receive some of their training from
inmates, while also spending time in the community with handlers and trainers before they’re ready
for adoption from the agency.

Sara Haake, dispatch director, said she began looking into adding a therapy dog as she learned of
their benefits and that other agencies had incorporated them successfully.

“We want to better serve our community and help break down some of the barriers between our
office and the campus community we serve,” Haake said. “Our bomb K-9s are very popular on
campus, but they are working dogs. Most people are just drawn to them, and Hershey will have a
civilian handler and can assist us in the office and on campus.”

Hershey is being added to the department through a fundraiser that is seeking $5,600 for the
adoption fees, as well as the items needed for his care, from a bed to bowls and toys.

“The handler will be taking on the responsibility of keeping Hershey in their home, but we are not
expecting them to incur those extra costs,” Haake said.

Through her research into therapy dogs, Haake learned other police departments in the Big 10, as
well as some Nebraska departments have added therapy dogs. Aside from raising the resiliency of
the UNL PD and having Hershey on campus to meet and greet the community, Haake knows there
will be a direct benefit to victims also.

“We plan to make Hershey very visible on campus,” Haake said. “But unfortunately, something we
do in our office is work with victims for interviews, and someone who has been a victim of an
assault or stalking, those are harder conversations. We would have Hershey available during those
interviews if the person is comfortable.”
Hershey receives plenty of attention from New Student Enrolment students Madalyn Schoneman
(left) and Karlee Rogokos outside the Cather Dining Center on June 17. The therapy dog remains in

training and will be on campus before the start of the fall semester.

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