Police have always been referred to as “the fuzz,” but one Minnesotan agency has taken the term to life.
A stray mother dog and her puppies had been loitering about a nearby farm for a few days when Officer Kathryn Smith of the St. Paul Police Department was sent to the scene. She walked outside to the scene to save them, and in the process adopted one of the puppies, who was later given the name Fuzz.
However, the 5-month-old puppy is now better known as Sgt. Fuzz at the department office.
“Our chief brings his dog, Stella, in on Fridays, so we thought it’d be nice to have the puppy come in here and there, too,” John Lozoya, senior commander of community engagement for the department, told The Dodo. “He was an instant hit with everyone.”
The cops and employees discovered that seeing 5-month-old Fuzz provided them a little respite from the stressful conditions they frequently encountered at work.
The department decided to hire Fuzz as its “cuddle officer,” working part-time at about 10 hours per week while his mom is there. He spends his days greeting staff members, playing ball and, of course, cuddling.
“He’s very playful but also loves to be cuddled,” Lozoya said. “His personality is very welcoming. He’ll lay down and let anyone pet him right away. He’s a very mellow puppy.”
The department intends to register Fuzz in a therapy dog certification course once he’s old enough because of his patient and kind nature, which will enable him to assist more people.
When he becomes a licensed therapy dog, Lozoya added, “we hope he can help not just our workers but also others who have been harmed and need support.”
Until then, Fuzz is loving all the attention — and will be making regular appearances at community events sponsored by the department.
Animals have long been a component of the police and fire forces, according to Lozoya. He’s kind of like this new iteration of a functioning police dog who just so happens to resemble a cuddly teddy bear.
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