Delivering Healing with a Side of Shenanigans
We’re proud to announce our new OFP Ambassador Therapy Dog Team – Sergeant Ed Soares and Duke! They served as distinguished partners in the Menlo Park Police Department for the past six years. Duke is certified in narcotics detection and has been the recipient of the Award for Canine Excellence (ACE) from the American Kennel Club. Sergeant Soares and Duke are not new to an ambassador role; they have attended school and community events, visited children’s hospitals, and brought their spirit of service and shenanigans wherever needed on behalf of the police department.
Recently, Duke was retired from service as a K9. And while one chapter of this partnership has come to a close, we’re thrilled they’re embarking on the next chapter with us! This dynamic duo has been longtime OFP supporters and advocates for our mission. In 2021, Sergeant Soares coordinated with fellow K9 officers across the country to successfully fund a service dog team in our program. We have no doubt that having this team on board will amplify our ability to reach and help more veterans and first responders with disabilities and their families. Sergeant Soares shared, “Mary and I have some grand ideas on utilizing Duke and me as a Therapy Dog Team to bring peace, joy and our own brand of shenanigans.”
The team has recently undergone training and testing to learn OFP protocols and procedures. Working closely with Mary and our mentor-trainers, this highly experienced and committed team quickly becomes certified. Duke has already passed 3 AKC tests: Good Citizen and Advanced Good Citizen and Urban Canine Good Citizen. These tests required Duke to proficiently navigate an urban setting with many different distractions and obstacles while staying obedient and on task. If the ribbon and huge smile didn’t give it away, Duke did it with flying colors. Next, our OFP Therapy Dog Team will have to go into a group setting and perform all the necessary tasks of a therapy dog, all while being evaluated on skill and ability.
In looking forward to their new mission together, Sergeant Soares said, “as proud as I was to have Duke wear a police harness as a Certified Narcotics Detection K9, I’m prouder for him to wear his new red therapy dog harness created by K9 Tactical Gear. Being retired as a police K9 team doesn’t mean our work is done; we have so many more lives to touch.” We have no doubt this amazing team will do just that!