The UNC Police Department is introducing a new member of its team: a therapy puppy. It marks the beginning of a pet therapy program initiated by the department.

“We’re confident the therapy dog will foster stronger connections and collaborations between UNC Police and the Carolina community,” said Destiny Wylie, community services officer for UNC Police.

The puppy is a standard F1B Goldendoodle — 75 percent poodle and 25 percent golden retriever, according to Wylie. She still doesn’t have a name, and UNC Police is asking for the public’s help in choosing one. The department has selected four finalists, which can be voted on through Wednesday, February 21: Brooke (in honor of UNC alumna and journalist Brooke Baldwin), Gwen (in honor of Gwendolyn Harrison Smith, the first Black woman to enroll at UNC), Mia (in honor of UNC women’s soccer legend Mia Hamm) and Sallie (in honor of Sallie Walker Stockard, the first woman to graduate from UNC). You can vote for one of those four options here.

The UNC Police Department’s unnamed therapy puppy, an F1B Goldendoodle.

After joining the department, the puppy will begin pet therapy certification, which involves training in obedience and specialized techniques.

“We’ll be documenting her progress and update our followers when she’ll make her first campus appearance,” said Wylie. “We look forward to embarking on this new endeavor with the Carolina community.”

 

Featured image via UNC Police

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