ASTORIA, OR -- 911 dispatchers in one Oregon city have a new four-legged co-worker. She's toy-driven and house-trained. "Having the dog around, I’ve seen an amazing turn in the staff," says Astoria Police Chief Stacy Kelly, "Everybody’s upbeat. They’ve all embraced this." Five-year-old foster dog Kalani now lives at the 24-hour dispatch center.
He says the goal is to help Kalani find a forever family, while providing emotional support to staff in a stressful workplace, "Even though these aren’t certified emotional support animals, there are studies out there that show how much better a work environment is with pets here." It also could lead to better physical health for employees. Kelly says dispatchers sit a lot, sometimes working through breaks, "But now that the dog’s here, they can take it out. We’re right here, a block away from the Riverwalk. So I see the dispatchers all the time going out, taking the dog on a walk, just getting some fresh air." And dispatchers aren't the only ones, "They’re in the same office here with us, and the police officers are also taking her out on a walk," says Kelly. Those walks also introduce her to the public, "We’ve had four people so far that are interested in her, and we’ve just had her since Friday."
Kalani spent a year living in a Utah shelter before coming to Astoria through an agreement with Clatsop Animal Assistance. Chief Kelly says she was pretty timid when she arrived, "Now, every time I turn around, she’s walking in my office. She makes the rounds through all the offices. She’ll go in and see everybody. She’s social but not cuddly. So, she’ll come up and just look at you, then turn around and walk off and maybe take a pet or two. It’s just neat having her." He says after Kalani is adopted, he'll consult with staff to make sure everyone agrees before accepting another foster animal.
The idea to partner with the local animal shelter is the brainchild of senior dispatcher Jodie Frost. She hopes other jurisdictions will follow, "It’s a win-win for everybody all around: the dog, us."
