COTTAGE GROVE – Formal training of police dogs began in the late 19th century. Folks might be most familiar with Sherman Shepherds or Belgian Malinois working alongside an officer while on duty; however, the newest member of the Cottage Grove Police Department is a one-year-old golden retriever and black lab mix named Sabrina.
At a city council meeting on Oct. 13, Police Chief Cory Chase presented the swearing-in ceremony of the pup as an official comfort K9. According to Chase, she was raised from a puppy to work as a comfort companion.
Sabrina is the second dog donated to CGPD by a local nonprofit called Working Dogs Oregon (WDO). In August 2023, the department welcomed K9 Ripp, who was donated by WDO, and assigned to Officer Derek Carlton
WDO covers the cost of training and placement, which can be expensive, according to Chase. Because of the donation, the addition of Sabrina won’t strain local budgets.
“The cost of working dogs can be really, really expensive,” he said. The donation of K9 Sabrina “makes it very cost-effective for us to be able to have a program that we wouldn’t otherwise probably have been able to afford.”
Chief Chase expressed his gratitude to Darin Campbell, director of WDO, who was at the council meeting.
Chase explained that Sabrina is explicitly trained in behavioral mental health services, not just for the staff, but for the community as well.
Rather than enforcement or detection, Sabrina’s role is for emotional support. Her job is to aid officers during high-stress calls, help de-escalate tense situations, and comfort crime victims.
She will assist officers on calls that involve children, domestic violence, and mental health crises. Sabrina also helps department staff as part of the internal wellness program, “as an overall general comfort throughout the day,” said Chase.
With a raise of a paw, a wagging tail, a few dog treats, and lots of head scratches, Sabrina was sworn in as a comfort K9.
