Shelter Dogs becomes Police K-9s through Miami-Dade Special Program – NBC New York

Some dogs were taken out of the shelter and turned into K-9 for the police department under a program that Miami-Dade County is calling for the win.

A Lab named Amanda spreads holiday cheer in the community alongside Miami-Dade officer Manny Rodriguez after his life is saved at the shelter.

“That’s my K-9 partner, Amanda. She is a police therapy dog,” Officer Rodriguez told a child playing in Doral Park.

Amanda is one of the first dogs in a program masterminded by former Miami-Dade Commissioner Sally Heyman to take dogs from the shelter and turn them into police K-9s.

“It was definitely one of the most rewarding things I’ve done with the department,” Rodriguez said.

Yes, Amanda attends schools and senior living facilities, but one of her most important jobs is supporting Miami-Dade police officers who go through traumatic situations. Earlier this year, officers were killed and lives were lost.

“For me personally, it was amazing,” Rodriguez said. “If I have to deal with something, I can lean on her. We have recently had many officers who have been injured or killed in the line of duty, and this is a very difficult thing for all of us to deal with.

Amanda’s name holds enormous significance within the Miami-Dade County Police Department. She is named after Officer Amanda Haworth, who was killed in the line of duty just over a decade ago.

“She is comforting. She doesn’t judge, you know that. You go to an animal and that’s unconditional love, and that’s what it gives to the department, and that’s what it gives to the community,” Rodriguez told NBC 6.

“When an officer is going through something traumatic, all he does is walk into the room and you see these big, muscular officers, they go back to being kids,” he said. “They’re on the floor rolling around with her like they’re babies, and all the while completely forgetting everything that’s going on.”

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said the K-9 shelter-to-service program is “sort of a creative win-win solution.”

Levine Cava says the dogs have been there at the worst of times.

“We have used these dogs to care for and comfort not only the community at large, but also the families of those affected by the tragedy,” she said. “When our officers are injured in the line of duty, these dogs have been a great source of comfort. I saw them kissing. I have seen people burst into tears.

Amanda is one year and four months old and it took her about six months of training to be able to go out and do this type of work in our community.

Currently, the department has three more K-9s like her, and hopefully one more is on the way as well.

Amanda’s message tonight is to remember her friends at the shelter.

You can call 3-1-1 or go to MiamiDade.gov/animals to inquire about a furry addition to your family.