Rafferty is ready to lend a paw as the Battle Ground Police Department’s official comfort dog.
The 2-year-old black Labrador Retriever was donated to BGPD by Guide Dogs for the Blind on Aug. 27. His new role is to help maintain a calm environment at the department by comforting people in distress. Lt. Jason Perdue, Rafferty’s handler, explained the dog will serve as a wellness companion for staff and visitors alike.
“Having been in the business for 25 years or so, I’ve seen the toll that [the job] can take on officers throughout their career, and so having this wellness dog as part of our peer support program is a good opportunity for officers to come in, relax, decompress,” Perdue said. “Just having a chance to break down some of those barriers of the stress and the anxiety of the job in general is great. And then we can take him to classrooms and build a bridge to build those relationships in the community as well.”
Rafferty’s primary responsibility is to provide comfort and emotional support within the police department for both officers and visitors. Another goal is for Rafferty to establish a connection with the community. After visiting Battle Ground High School and City Hall last week, Rafferty has become a popular character among staff and students already. Perdue shared that Rafferty’s calm, social demeanor makes him well-suited for the job, as he can sense when someone is in need of comfort.
“Normally, it takes up to a couple of years, or maybe never, that they have a dog that’ll fit. But Rafferty came along and it was a good fit,” Perdue said. “He is making the rounds and everybody seems to like him. He’s either sleeping or trying to find somebody that will scratch his back.”
Before joining the BGPD, Rafferty was trained as a guide dog and was assigned to assist a visually impaired high school girl. Though he excelled in his training, Rafferty eventually lost interest in his role. After reviewing his performance, the Guide Dogs for the Blind team determined Rafferty wanted a career change. Since his August appointment, Rafferty has found new enthusiasm in his role as a comfort dog. Despite this, the young dog still employs some of his old tricks.
“He’s got some funny [habits],” Perdue said. “He still has a lot of his guide dog-type training. He still does things like stop at doorways. He still tries to keep me out of traffic or walk straight on a sidewalk.”
Rafferty’s new career can be just as exhausting as his old one, however. As Rafferty continues to make his rounds and meet new people, he is establishing a better work-life balance for himself.
“He’s happy. He goes home with me at night and acts like a real dog when he’s at home and has fun playing and doing that kind of stuff,” Perdue said. “But when he’s at work and he puts his uniform on, he knows that it’s time to be a working dog, and he actually really likes that. He loves the interaction with people and the varied experiences around here [and] seeing new things.”
As part of BGPD’s daily operations, Rafferty will be available to both officers and visitors needing emotional support. Purdue explained the dog’s presence can mean a lot for those going through a difficult period.
“His primary focus is the people in the [police] building, but whether it’s a victim of a crime, children that are involved in crimes or police contact, it really does provide a good opportunity to build relationships with the community,” Perdue said.
As Rafferty adjusts to his new role, Perdue plans to bring him to future city and school events to further engage with the community. Residents are encouraged to approach and interact with him.
“If he’s out in the public and people see him, they’re welcome to approach, and I can give him the go-ahead to say hello … If they see him out and about, [they’re] definitely welcome to pet and kind of spoil a little bit,” Perdue said.
