Thanks to financial support from the Vancouver Police Foundation, the Vancouver Police Department has added a new member to its Victim Services Unit. The VPD’s intervention dog is hitting the streets to provide support to those involved in traumatic incidents.
Lucca, a three-year-old yellow Lab, has been bred and raised by the Pacific Assistance Dog Society (PADS) to be a calm, well-mannered presence for those who are experiencing trauma pain, grief, illness or injury.
As part of the Victim Services Unit, Lucca will be available to work with victims and families in many types of situations. Crisis Intervention Caseworker Sue Baker and Lucca may be called to the scene of a sudden death, or perhaps to the hospital to provide comfort and support to a victim of assault. They may sit with a young victim who needs to recall very difficult details to give a statement to police, or they may attend court to provide support to a traumatized witness who is giving testimony.
“We have already seen first-hand the difference that Lucca has made with traumatized individuals,” says Lucca’s handler, Sue Baker. “We are proud of the work that he’s done, and are looking forward to further developing his role as a member of our Unit and Department.”
