Therapy Canine Program

 Policy: Therapy Canine Program

Author: Chief Joseph M. Hallman

WILEAG Standard: N/A

Issue Date:  September 1, 2026

Reviewed Date: New

Revised Date: New

 

Purpose:

This policy establishes guidelines for the use of therapy canines to help department employees, victims, and witnesses cope with the exposure to traumatic incidents, support the department's wellness program to improve members' resiliency and overall well-being, and participate in community outreach.

Policy:

The UW-Platteville Police Department’s therapy canines and their handlers shall be utilized to promote employee wellness, community engagement, and the overall safety, security, and quality of life of the University community. Therapy canines and their handlers shall regularly participate in appropriate training to maintain the knowledge, skills, and proficiency necessary to reasonably and effectively carry out the objectives of the therapy canine program.

Definitions:

  1. Canine “K-9”- refers to a trained police dog, owned and utilized by UWPPD, and assigned to a handler.
  2. Fair Labor Standards Act- Employees covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) must receive overtime pay for hours worked in excess of 40 in a workweek of at least one and one-half times their regular rates of pay.
  3. Handler- refers to a specially trained sworn police officer assigned to work with a canine as part of a canine team.
  4. Therapy Canine/Dog- refers to a dog who has received therapy dog training designed to support employee health and wellness, community building and engagement, and critical incident and/or at-risk population support.

Procedures:

  1. Handler Qualifications
    1. The minimum qualifications for the assignment of canine handler include:
      1. A full-time officer of the UW-Platteville Police Department with a minimum of 24 months of service with UWPPD and who is off probationary status.
      2. Residing in a home that is appropriate to house a medium-to-large canine safely.
    2. Officers applying for the position must be able to show the following:
      1. A general knowledge and understanding of dogs.
      2. Show a willing attitude to be a canine handler.
      3. Understand and agree there will be call-ins during non-duty time.
      4. Present a professional appearance.
      5. Be in good physical condition.
      6. Be willing to allow the dog to live in their residence and be a part of their family.
      7. Proper care must be given to the dog at home and work.
      8. Commitment to serving as the handler for the duration of the service life of the canine.
  2. Handler Application & Selection Process
    1. When a vacancy exists, information regarding the vacancy shall be distributed electronically to all qualifying personnel, which shall be limited to line level staff. Supervisors are not eligible to apply.  The selection process includes but is not limited to the following:
      1. Submission of a letter of interest to the Chief of Police.
      2. A Strong performance in a panel interview, which may include internal and external partners.
      3. Successful completion of probationary period
      4. Have a minimum of 24 months of UWPPD law enforcement experience and who is off probationary status.
      5. A Strong performance in a presentation on a job-related topic.
      6. Complete and sign the Therapy Dog Handler Agreement Form.
    2. Final selection shall be made by the Chief of Police.
    3. Prior to the end of the therapy canine’s service life, the Chief of Police can, as appropriate, purchase another canine, end the program, or reassign the canine.  If the program is ended, then handler may have the option to purchase the therapy canine from the University and assume all responsibility for the therapy canine’s care and maintenance from that point on.
  3. Selection, Evaluation, and Pre-Service Training Requirements For Canine(s)
    1. Only suitable, certified canines shall be allowed to work within the UW-Platteville Police Department.
    2. Canines shall be selected based on their:
      1. Health
      2. Temperament
      3. Workability as a Therapy Dog
      4. The Training Curriculum, Evaluation Standards, and References for and from the kennel providing and training the canine.
    3. The canine shall receive all needed initial training and shall be certified on an annual basis.
    4. All initial training requirements of both the canine and handler shall be satisfactorily met prior to the canine being placed into service.
  4. Handler Responsibilities
    1. The handler is ultimately responsible for twenty-four-hour care, health and welfare of the canine and should ensure that the canine receives proper nutrition, grooming, training, medical care, affection, and living conditions.
    2. The canine should feel safe and relaxed while off duty when residing in the handler's home. The conditions at the home must be conducive to a healthy environment for the therapy canine in addition to the handler's family members. Consideration should be given for allergies and fears other family members may have of animals. There must also be adequate space for the therapy canine and the handler's family to interact appropriately. If there are other pets in the home, the handler shall agree that if conflict occurs between the department's animal and the pet which compromises the therapy canine's ability to live and function with the pet, that the department animal will be kept separate and handled independently from the pet or the therapy dog will be reassigned.
    3. The handler shall permit the Chief of Police or designee to conduct spontaneous on-site inspections of affected areas of his/her home as well as vehicle(s) to verify that conditions and equipment conform to this policy.
    4. Under no circumstances will the therapy canine be lodged at another location unless approved by the Chief of Police or designee.
    5. The handler will be responsible for ensuring the therapy canine is wearing the Department approved equipment to indicate that it is working/on-duty.
    6. While on and off duty, the therapy canine will wear a collar displaying their information in the event the therapy canine is separated from the handler.
    7. The therapy canine should be microchipped. The contracted veterinarian will maintain the microchip number.
    8. Therapy canines are chosen carefully based on their temperament; therefore, it is imperative that the therapy canine be protected from significant adverse interactions with aggressive dogs, other animals, or individuals that could harm the dog.
    9. The handler shall not expose the therapy canine to any foreseeable or unreasonable risk of harm.
    10. Any changes in the handler's living status that may affect the lodging or environment of the therapy canine shall be reported to the Police Chief as soon as possible.
    11. The handler must keep appropriate documentation with him/her at all times, that acknowledges the status as a trained Therapy Dog.
  5. Therapy Canine Care & Equipment Needs
    1. Therapy canine handlers are responsible for the 24-hour care and maintenance of the animal. The Department shall incur all costs of veterinary care, licensing, equipment, and food.
      1. While a department vehicle cannot be issued, specifically, to the handler, the Department shall provide the handler a mobile kennel and/or safety harness that works in conjunction with the vehicle’s safety belts.  These same safety devices shall be used by the handler when transporting the therapy canine in his/her personal car to get to and from work.
      2. The handler shall be issued the necessary equipment to perform his/her duties.  Equipment includes, but is not limited to:
        1. Food/Water bowls
        2. Leads/Leashes
        3. Reward Toy
        4. Brushes
        5. Nail Clippers
        6. Protective Equipment
        7. Harness with appropriate markings “Therapy Dog”
        8. Badge and Badge Holder
        9. Food & Nutritional Supplements
        10. Pet Hair Vacuum (Handler will vacuum the patrol squad at the end of each shift to ensure pet hair is cleaned up.
        11. Any other training equipment as deemed necessary by the Chief of Police or designee in consultation with the handler.
      3. All vaccinations for the canine shall be completed on an annual basis. Documentation of all veterinary visits shall be provided to the Department. Documentation shall include:
        1. Rabies vaccination.
        2. Bordetella vaccination.
        3. Lyme Disease vaccination.
        4. Distemper vaccination.
        5. Heartworm Examination and medication.
        6. Fecal Examination.
        7. Flea/Tick medication.
      4. Per the City of Platteville Municipal Code 6.01, a dog license is required and has to be renewed annually.  The UW-Platteville Police Department will be responsible for the payment of the license, and the handler will be responsible for obtaining and renewing the license annually,  
  6. Temporary Therapy Canine Placement
    1. Whenever a therapy canine handler is on vacation or traveling for an extended number of days, it may be necessary to relocate the canine temporarily. In those situations, the therapy canine handler should make appropriate arrangements. The following options shall be considered:
      1. Any department member may be authorized by the therapy canine handler to keep the therapy canine overnight. Authorization will be based on input from the handler
      2. The canine may also be kept at commercial boarding location approved by the therapy canine handler and the Chief of Police. The therapy canine should not be lodged at another location unless approved by the therapy canine handler or Chief of Police.
  7. Therapy canine Injury & Medical Care
    1. In the event the therapy canine is injured, or there is an indication the therapy canine is not in good physical condition, the injury or condition will be reported to the Police Chief or designee as soon as practicable and appropriately documented.
    2. All medical attention shall be rendered by the designated therapy canine veterinarian, except during an emergency where treatment should be obtained from the nearest available veterinarian. All records of medical treatment shall be maintained in the therapy canine’s file.
  8. Reporting of Bites or Injuries
    1. Any bite or injury caused by a therapy canine, whether on or off-duty, shall be promptly reported to the Police Chief or designee.
    2. Unintended bites or injuries caused by a therapy canine should be documented. If an individual alleges an injury, either visible or not visible, a supervisor should be notified, and both the individual's injured and uninjured areas shall be photographed as soon as practicable after first tending to the immediate needs of the injured party.
    3. Photographs shall be retained as evidence in accordance with current department evidence procedures. The photographs should be retained until the time any related civil proceeding has expired.
    4. Therapy canines used by law enforcement agencies are generally exempt from impoundment and reporting requirements; however, the therapy canine shall be made available for examination in reasonable time if requested by the local health department.
    5. The therapy canine handler shall also notify the local health department if the canine exhibits any abnormal behavior after a bite.
  9. Training
    1. The therapy canine and handler will be certified by the UW-Platteville Police Department's designated training vendor to the standards deemed appropriate by the trainer. The therapy canine and handler must be proficient with basic canine obedience commands. After the initial certification, training with the vendor should occur as recommended.
    2. Trainings shall be conducted on a quarterly basis and is the responsibility of the handler in accordance with the standards as provided by the Therapy Dog’s certifying organization.
    3. The handler shall be responsible for scheduling periodic training for department members in order to familiarize them with how to conduct themselves when in the presence of the Therapy Dog.
    4. All training records will be maintained by the handler and reviewed by the Police Chief or designee.  If the handler or therapy canine fails to meet the minimum standards to maintain certification or perform therapy canine duties, the department will remove the therapy canine from service and either reassign the therapy canine to another handler or permanently remove the therapy canine from active service.
  10. Therapy Canine Deployments
    1. The handler should monitor the length of deployments to make sure the therapy canine has sufficient breaks.
    2. The therapy canine handler should monitor the therapy canine’s activity or check in with others that are monitoring the therapy canine; to help ensure the therapy canine is not interfering with employees’ duties in the workplace.
    3. Care should be taken if someone who is working does not want to interact with the therapy canine. Self-initiated interactions are also encouraged at special events or known locations that attract residents and visitors if dogs are welcome (outdoor shopping areas, University-sponsored events particularly those occurring outdoors).
    4. Care should be taken when the temperatures are extremely hot or cold because it poses a risk to the therapy canine’s well-being.  The Handler should be cognizant of the length of the appearance, and the therapy canine should be given a break afterward.
    5. The handler’s schedule will be flexible to meet the needs of the community, as well as avoiding overtime costs as much as possible, through flexing hours throughout the forty-hour pay period.  The handler needs to understand that their schedule can vary due to program events and unplanned incidents.  The primary responsibility of the handler is to the university and to ensure that the UW Platteville Police Department patrol needs are met.  
    6. After-hours requests for use of the therapy canine will be considered on a case-by-case basis and should generally be approved by the Chief of Police or designee. If a call-in is determined to be appropriate for the situation by a supervisor, the therapy canine handler and therapy canine may respond.
  11. Therapy Canine Deployment Records Management
    1. It is the responsibility of the handler to maintain records of the Therapy Dog usage.  Day to day operations is not required but special visits and community events will be documented in the UWPPD’s Records Management System, using the Category- “Presentations” and Description- “Therapy Dog Deployment”.
  12. Authorizations, Conditions, and Limitations on Usage
    1. No one shall engage with the therapy canine unless authorized by the handler.
    2. When the therapy canine has the vest on, it is working and should not be distracted.  It will be the responsibility of the handler to educate students and staff when they can or cannot interact with the therapy canine.
    3. The handler will adhere to a strict diet for the therapy canine, so as to minimize any possible medical conditions and no one will feed the therapy canine any food without the handler’s permission.
    4. Only the handler will give the therapy canine commands.
  13. Therapy Canine in Public Areas
    1. The therapy canine should be kept on a leash when in areas that allow access to the public. Exceptions to this rule would include specific operations for which the therapy canine is trained.
    2. A therapy canine should not be left unattended in any area to which the public may have access.
    3. If the therapy canine needs to be secured in a vehicle, the vehicle shall be secured in such a manner as to prevent unauthorized access to the therapy canine. The therapy canine handler shall also ensure that the unattended vehicle remains habitable for the therapy canine.
  14. UWPPD Office Accommodations
    1. “Work Mode” will be indicated by the presence of the therapy vest worn by the dog.  During this mode, personnel will be encouraged to refrain from interacting with the dog to allow the dog to concentrate on the job at hand or to rest after it has been with a victim or witness.
    2. “Social Mode” will be indicated by the absence of the vest.  This mode will occur at the handler’s discretion.  The handler will ensure that the dog has ample work time, social time and relaxation time throughout the day.  The dog will always be supervised by the handler.
    3. The handler will not allow the dog to enter any area where the dog is not welcome.
    4. The handler will not relinquish custody of the dog at any time during the workday except as previously stated.
  15. Therapy Canine Handler Compensation
    1. Reoccurring expenses related to the therapy canine may arise (grooming, training, etc.)  If a service for the therapy canine is paid for out of pocket by the handler, the UW-Platteville Police Department will reimburse the therapy canine handler for that expense.  If the therapy canine handler works any hours outside his/her regular duties for purposes of the therapy canine, he/she will be compensated by overtime or will be allowed to make shift adjustments, based on the event or circumstance.  Under the FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act) the handler will be compensated at a rate of 45 minutes per day, seven days a week for kennel and care of the therapy canine.
  16. Separation Of A Therapy Canine Handler
    1. Therapy canines are property of the UW-Platteville Police Department. As a voluntary collateral program, the handler serves at the pleasure of the Police Chief and may be removed from the assignment at any time. If the assigned handler separates from employment with the UW-Platteville Police Department during the service life of the therapy canine, the therapy canine may be reassigned to an appropriate employee based upon the established selection process or the handler may purchase the therapy canine from the department. All equipment purchased through department funds will be returned to the department.
  17. Retirement Of Therapy Canine
    1. If the contracted veterinarian determines a therapy canine is no longer viable for health or age-related reasons, the therapy canine handler will be given the option of accepting financial responsibility and liability for the continued care and maintenance of the therapy canine. The handler will be required to sign a waiver of liability accepting responsibility for the therapy canine.
    2. If the therapy handler declines taking ownership of the therapy canine, he/she will be offered to other members of the department.
    3. If no one in the department accepts the therapy canine, it will be placed for public adoption or otherwise placed in a good home at the discretion of the Police Chief.
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