The Concord Police Department is inviting the community to help name its new comfort dog, an 8-week-old male Labrador retriever. The department has been working with Puddleduck Retrievers, a breeder from Morrill, Maine, to bring the dog on board.
Comfort dogs are trained to assist people experiencing trauma or crises and provide support during tense situations. They also help ease interactions between the public and the police, and represent the department at community events.
The new comfort dog will be handled by School Resource Officer Samantha Simpson. After turning four months old, the dog will undergo obedience and comfort training, with the possibility of additional training in tracking.
Before the dog’s arrival, Concord Middle School students were surveyed to suggest names, with Thor, Tank, and Benji emerging as the top choices. Now, the entire community is invited to vote for the final name, with voting open until Friday, March 14.
“We hope the community will join us in selecting a name for our newest member,” said Chief Thomas Mulcahy. “Our new comfort dog will play a vital role in creating positive interactions with community members and comforting those facing traumatic situations. We are excited to welcome this new addition to our department!”
