PSO therapy dogs help deputies with mental health-related calls

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. – More law enforcement agencies are transforming how they handle people today in crisis, including the Pasco County Sheriff’s Workplace. Inside of the department’s behavioral health intervention workforce, there are four experienced treatment dogs, and K-9 Mango is just one of them.

“He’s a rescue. So we bought him from Brevard County,” stated Detective Ricardo Ortiz, who is K-9 Mango’s handler. “They have an outfit up there termed Paws and Stripes where by the actual inmates in striped uniforms essentially train these puppies.”

Ortiz mentioned he initially achieved Mango two and a half a long time ago, and they experienced a rapidly link.

K-9 Mango is one of 4 therapy canines at the Pasco Sheriff’s Place of work. He responded to a lot more than 120 phone calls in 2021. 

“When he came out, he was so chill, like, ‘hey, fellas, can I arrive out?’ And I was like, ‘that’s him,'” stated Ortiz. “His demeanor is excellent for what I will need him for. The type of calls I go out to, that we both equally go out to, we go to persons in disaster.”

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When the patrol auto door opens at a contact, K-9 Mango is the confront people see. Ortiz reported prior to introducing remedy canines like K-9 Mango, it could sometimes get just one or two visits just before the human being is aware of he’s not there to take them to jail or Baker Act them. 

“I go there with Mango, we crack the ice in 10 minutes, so he aids out tremendously,” Ortiz reported.

K-9 Mango is a single of four treatment canine at the Pasco Sheriff’s Business. He responded to more than 120 phone calls in 2021.

Since 2019, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office environment mentioned BHIT detectives responded to 16,631 phone calls for service, and 86% of them were being largely psychological wellbeing associated. In 2021, the group taken care of 8,187 phone calls, and so much in 2022, the crew has experienced 2,502 calls for support. K-9 Mango responded 123 times in 2021.

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The sheriff’s office said the remedy dogs’ existence aids, and involuntary tests are now down 4 per cent. 

“They will chat to Mango and type of give me the information and facts they need to have, let me know what they are heading by way of. And then that way I can see how I can help them,” explained Ortiz.

K-9 Mango and Ortiz can support another person through a crisis just one day at a time. Deputies explained the remedy canines reply to additional than just psychological health phone calls. They can also go to mishaps or calls with little ones, and they even go and meet up with men and women out in the community at hospitals and browsing centers.