The Frederick Police Department is excited to welcome its second comfort dog to the department.
Fred, a two-year-old yellow lab, was donated by Hero Dogs, Inc., a Maryland 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that improves the quality of life for our nation’s heroes by raising, training and placing service dogs with U.S. Military veterans and first responders.
Fred’s newest assignment is to accompany OFC Maggie Lee, who is the resident School Resource Officer for Maryland School for the Deaf. This program is a partnership between The Frederick Police Department’s Special Operations Division and MSD to provide an additional level of support to the community. Although funded by MSD, Fred was sponsored and named after Frederick Thomas Thornley, a SK2c in the U.S. Navy.
Fred is not part of the Frederick Police Department’s K9 unit. His duties won’t include apprehension, drug or explosive detection. Rather, the newest K9 will be available for select FPD events. His primary focus will be to provide emotional comfort at Maryland School for the Deaf.
“Fred will available for a wide variety of support for students and staff ranging from comfort if there is a stressful situation to brightening the day by playing with kids. I think dogs like this are important for all communities not just the Deaf Community,” said OFC. Lee. “It’s his first week and the level of smiles, happiness, and calm he has brought to students and staff already has been amazing. We are so lucky to have him here.”
Officer Lee is the first SRO at MSD and Fred will be the first comfort dog at the school. “I’m so thankful to have been supported in bringing this program to our MSD community,” Lee said.