Service dog takes a ‘paws’ from the job to celebrate birthday

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on May 27, 2023.

Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman Lethbridge Police Service, Victim-Witness Services Unit's dog Kourt celebrates her fourth birthday in style Friday at the Lethbridge Police Station, alongside her four-legged friend Audi, a puppy in training.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

The Lethbridge Police Service had a reason to paw-ty Friday, as Victim-Witness Services Unit’s dog Kourt celebrated her fourth birthday and her first-year anniversary with the department.

The Golden Retriever-Lab cross joined the VWSU in March 2022 and turned four on May 25 and celebrated on Friday with her human colleagues along with her four-legged friend Audi, a puppy in training.

Dog handler and program Manager for VWSU, Catherine Pooley said Kourt is one of those unsung heroes working in the background and it was time to celebrate her, not only for her birthday but for the important role she has been playing for the last year.

“She’s there when people need her. After a tough call she’s there, if it’s been a tough day, if things are going on in people’s personal lives. She’s also there for victims when they’re going through tough moments, and she’s really just that certain quiet solid support that people need,” said Pooley.

She said Kourt has been a huge gift to their team and to everyone who has interacted with her from victims to officers, to office staff.

“We’ve had some victims that weren’t comfortable disclosing different experiences they’ve had, particularly kids. They’ve been through some really tough times and having Kourt with them have made the difference to be able to tell an officer what’s happened and then they’re able to actually have some justice come as a result,” said Pooley.

 She said as far as their officers go, sometimes they go in after a tough call and the stress and the hard work of what they’re doing is very obvious in their faces and their body language and after spending some time with Kourt, perhaps a few snuggles, the changes are noticeable.

 “There’s just that quiet comfort that she gives, and then they leave with their shoulders back down where they’re supposed to be, and ready to help the next person who is waiting for their help,” said Pooley.

Kourt is the first Facility Dog in LPS and VWSU history. She received extensive training through Dogs with Wings Assistance Dog Society in Alberta. Unlike traditional assistance or companion dogs that serve one person, facility dogs are trained to work with a handler and serve many people.

Pooley said they do not keep specific track of who or how many people Kourt helps as they do not want to make people feel like their interactions are being tracked.

“We don’t want people to feel like we are tracking them or quantifying the work that they are doing with her, but I can tell you we’ve seen about 700 hours of internal support and about 350 victims or users since she got here last year in different capacities. She’s had the opportunity to work with a wide variety of different people,” said Pooley.

When it comes to Kourt’s personality, Pooley said she has two very distinctive sides that complement each other.

“When she’s working and she has her jacket on she is just a consummate professional, but the minute we take her jacket off she’s just a puppy,” said Pooley.

 She said when she is no longer on work mode, she is like a regular dog – she hauls and barks and loves to play.

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