Orange County authorities have introduced a new K-9 program, called WAGS (Wellness, Assistance, Growth and Support), to support victims and community members in critical situations. The program has introduced three K-9s — Lizzie, Charlie Brown, and Sunny — who are trained to detect signs of trauma and comfort the distressed.
Program Details
The three K-9s do not perform law enforcement functions, such as investigations, according to the probation department. Instead, they serve as a support resource that may be utilized during critical incidents, victim-centered interactions, youth engagement activities, staff wellness responses, court support, and approved community outreach events.
Lizzie, a standard Poodle, is assigned to her handlers Mona Negron and David Alonso, while Charlie Brown, a chocolate Lab, is paired with David Martinez. Sunny, a yellow lab, will be dispatched with Raul Castro. Two more K-9s are slated to join the program.
Funding for the WAGS program comes from a U.S. Department of Justice Assistance Grant (JAG), which supported canine acquisition, specialized training, equipment, and program implementation.
Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.
