VALDOSTA, GA (WALB) - The Valdosta Police Department has a new addition to its police force.
Hope, a comfort/therapy dog, is joining the department to assist in a few different ways.
VPD is working with animal control officials in Florida who rescue dogs and train them for this kind of duty.
The program is designed to help citizens, including children and victims of crime on a mental, social, emotional and physical level.
Additionally, the department is exploring options of introducing Hope in school settings.
Hope's handler, Officer Carla Jones, named her "Hope" to highlight the importance of adopting animals in local shelters and allowing them to bring that hope to others.
"Ms. Hope is a welcome addition to our police department,” said Police Chief Brian Childress.
Jones said her name states her purpose.
"She's been through so much and has so much to offer, that I decided to call her Hope and there's always a little hope in everybody's life," said Jones.
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