US Capitol Police Welcomes A Peer Support Dog Named Lila To The Squad

The US Capitol Police Department has welcomed a distinguished new addition to its ranks: Lila, a 3-year-old Labrador Retriever.

Lila has been a peer support dog for the force since June, an emotional comfort animal who is part of a larger effort to connect officers with resources and support services they may need. In addition, Lila will help the force to deal with the stress of the job.

Lila is already having an impact, according to police. She, along with 4-year-old yellow lab Leo, is part of a team that aims to not only provide police with a smile, a wagging tail, and some affection from a puppy but also to serve as a catalyst for officers who may be hesitant to ask for help or assistance when they are in need.

Since January, even before Lila and Leo became formal team members, support dogs have played an increasingly important role on Capitol Hill.

For the time being, Lila is primarily deployed based on appointments and when the force anticipates a need. Still, officials believe Lila may potentially become a resource for other departments in crisis as a means of repaying the assistance that USCP got during the January 6 incident.

Lila is also part of a wider push on Capitol Hill to provide greater assistance to cops. Since January 6, the job has been more challenging, and officers have been working to develop a peer support program to help them deal with some of the daily problems.

Source: Business Insider