AIRDRIE, ALBERTA – Court Coordinator/Trauma Dog Handler, Deb Reid, and Jake the Facility Support Dog, have been nominated for an Alberta Community Justice Award.
Jake is a five-year old, purebred, black Labrador who reported to duty for Airdrie & District Victims Assistant Society and RCMP on Nov. 1, 2019. He was specifically bred and trained to be a facility support dog by the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides.
Since Jake joined the force he has been actively engaging in our community.
"We use him to provide comfort and support to children and adults during statements and to build rapport and bond with a person," Reid says. "Jake is also present for meetings with myself, RCMP and Crown Prosecutors where we prepare victims for testifying in court."
He also appears in court as a "court aid" and provides support to victims throughout the court process, and during urgent care and hospital visits. To date, he has worked on 47 court files (incl. meetings and court attendance) and supported 89 victims including children, youth and adults.
"Debbie and Jake provide Airdrie and area victims of crime with an opportunity to be supported in a very special way," says Mayor Peter Brown. "Assistance dogs, like Jake, add a whole new dimension when it comes to supporting some of our most vulnerable community members. It is difficult to quantify the overall impact Jake has had in our community."
Jake has been fully embraced by his coworkers and colleagues in the Airdrie RCMP – Municipal Enforcement detachment. This nomination to acknowledge the extraordinary contributions that Jake and Reid make is a well-deserved recognition of the value and importance of the support they bring to our community.
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