Fort Atkinson city officials have announced that the Fort Atkinson Police Department will be served by a new member, a labradoodle therapy dog in training named “Moose Tracks.”
According to the release, Moose Tracks is a member of the Jefferson County Police Officer Support Team, or P.O.S.T.
The pup, who was born on May 24, was donated to the organization by Blueberry Cottage Labradoodles in Osseo, the release noted. He lives with Jay and Vanessa Leonard.
Vanessa is a police officer with the Fort Atkinson Police Department, and Jay works for the Village of Johnson Creek Police Department.
Describing the owner of Blueberry Cottage Labradoodles, Heather Clark, Vanessa was quoted in the release as saying that Clark has a passion for helping law enforcement through the use of K-9 therapy dogs.
“She is amazing and really helped us to get the K-9 therapy dog program started sooner rather than later,” Vanessa said within the release of Clark.
Additionally, the release noted: P.O.S.T. was founded by Jay and Vanessa in 2019 to provide peer support to police officers to help mitigate stress and trauma and is a nonprofit organization consisting of non-paid volunteers. P.O.S.T. team members include law enforcement officers, retirees, firefighters, EMT’s, medical examiners, spouses/partners of first responders, therapists, chaplains and dispatchers. The team members come from within the departments located in Jefferson County. the organization is governed by a board of directors.
“We extend our outreach to include all first responders and family members of first responders,” Vanessa noted within the release.
Within the release, Moose was described as a Fort Atkinson Police Department employee who “sleeps a lot on the job, is a bit hairy and tends to lick his coworkers, but he’s still pretty popular.”
Moose will be in training to become a certified therapy dog for about two years, the release continued. He will attend a basic manners class in September and then several other classes at Best Paw Forward in Heartland and Pewaukee. He will eventually attend the Canine Good Citizen class and become certified through Intermountain Therapy Animals.
Describing the pathway to obtain a therapy dog, within the release, Vanessa said “when she would attend debriefings and other events involving first responders some organizations had therapy dogs they would bring.”
Said Vanessa: “I noticed how first responders responded to the dog and a noticeable change occurred in individuals as they interacted with the therapy dogs. It was amazing to me to see the stress just leave a person just for a little bit. Therapy dogs don’t judge. They are just there to lend support. I knew immediately this was something I wanted to integrate into our team.”
Moose is anticipated to bring comfort to everyone he meets, the release stated, adding that Moose and Vanessa are anticipated to be seen at a variety of community events. Moose also is anticipated to visit assisted living homes, health care facilities, and schools.
“One of his main jobs will be peer support for first responders. He will continue to visit police and fire departments as well as many other public offices in Jefferson County,” the release read.
Moose and Vanessa will be making appearances at the National Night Out in Jefferson on Wednesday, at the Waterloo Fill the Squad event on Aug. 13, Hero’s Fest in Watertown at Berres Brothers Coffee on Sept. 8, Culvers in Johnson Creek on Sept. 9 and in Lake Mills Sept. 10, according to the release.
Those interested in learning more about Moose can find him on Facebook, where there are links to help support him and purchase merchandise. There is also a Paypal link for those who are interested in donating, the release noted.
“Moose Tracks,” a K-9 therapy dog in training, visits with Fort Atkinson City Clerk/Treasurer/Finance Director Michelle Ebbert, from left, and City Manager Rebecca Houseman.
Fort Atkinson Police Officer Vanessa Leonard holds “Moose Tracks,” a therapy dog in training in her care. Moose is a member of the Jefferson County Police Officer Support Team, an organization begun by Leonard and her husband, Jay Leonard, who serves as a member of the Village of Johnson Creek Police Department.
Contributed photos.
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