WEST RICHLAND, Wash. – A West Richland therapy dog is nominated for a national award recognizing emotional service animals.
The three-year-old English Cream Retriever, Polar, was nominated by his handler, West Richland Animal and Code Compliance Officer Marissa Adamson.
Adamson said Polar makes a huge impact on the community, including when he lent support to William Wiley Elementary School students who were impacted by a shooting earlier this year.
Wiley parents even expressed Polar was a reason the kids felt ready to go back to school, she said.
“Seeing him interact with all these students that were very upset brings the best out of that student, makes them comforted,” Adamson said. “I can’t put into what he did for those kids, but just seeing it was really incredible.”
Polar will celebrate two years with the station in February, and Adamson said he doesn’t just make a difference in the community, but in the station as well.
“He really lightens up the whole department. He really kind of ties us together with the community the service he provides for our officers,” she said. “Even the ones that don’t like dogs, I’ve heard flip a switch with Polar.”
Voting opens on Nov. 25 and runs through Dec. 4. Information on how and where to vote will be uploaded to the West Richland Police Department Facebook page.