RETRIEVER AND LOVES TO SNUGGLE. REACHER, THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER, IS MAKING THE ROUNDS AT WELLSPAN YORK HOSPITAL. PEOPLE CAN鈥橳 RESIST PETTING HIM. HE IS THE YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT鈥橲 NEWEST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CANINE, AND HE JOINS ANOTHER THERAPY DOG BY THE NAME OF VICTORY. THE DOGS PROVIDE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED IT, FROM TEAM MEMBERS TO FIRST RESPONDERS. OUR DOGS ARE INSTANTLY. THEY鈥橰E INSTANTLY THERAPEUTIC. THEY THEY CAN DE-ESCALATE ALMOST ANY SITUATION. THEY FIND A WAY TO GET IN THERE AND BRIGHTEN UP THAT PERSON鈥橲 DAY. AND YOU KNOW, A SMILE IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO BE HEALED. EACH DOG HAS A POLICE OFFICER HANDLER WHO TAKES THEM HOME EVERY NIGHT, AND LIKE LITTLE KIDS, THE DOGS GET PLENTY OF LOVE. I KN
News We Love: Community engagement K-9 provides emotional support at hospital
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Updated: 8:56 PM CDT Jun 1, 2025
Police in York, Pennsylvania, have a new community engagement K-9 on the force.It is a 2-year-old golden retriever by the name of Reacher. The dog will be teamed with a hospital resource officer at WellSpan York Hospital. Police say the dog will provide therapeutic and healing support to patients as well as emotional support to team members and first responders."Our dogs are instantly therapeutic. They can de-escalate any situation," said York police Commissioner Michael Muldrow."They can find ways to get in there and brighten up their day, and a smile is the best way to be healed," said York Mayor Michael Helfrich.Reacher joins another police therapy dog by the name of Victory. Each dog has a police handler who takes them home every night. They get plenty of love.
Police in York, Pennsylvania, have a new community engagement K-9 on the force.
It is a 2-year-old golden retriever by the name of Reacher.
The dog will be teamed with a hospital resource officer at WellSpan York Hospital.
Police say the dog will provide therapeutic and healing support to patients as well as emotional support to team members and first responders.
"Our dogs are instantly therapeutic. They can de-escalate any situation," said York police Commissioner Michael Muldrow.
"They can find ways to get in there and brighten up their day, and a smile is the best way to be healed," said York Mayor Michael Helfrich.
Reacher joins another police therapy dog by the name of Victory. Each dog has a police handler who takes them home every night.
They get plenty of love.
