Puppy power! New therapy dog now on the beat at PFW

Wherever Rick Wiegmann walks on the Purdue University Fort Wayne campus these days, he receives an abnormally high number of smiles and nods from appreciative students. Actually, it’s the 57-pound black Labrador mix walking beside Wiegmann who draws the most eyes, but the University Police sergeant still appreciates the positive attention.

For 3½ weeks, Wiegmann has been the handler for Recon, the police department’s new campus therapy dog whose mandate is to make friends and help everyone feel better. With itchy ears that continually need scratching, Recon loves to meet people, stand still for rubs on his neck, and even roll over for easier access to his tummy.

Recon is part of a university initiative Wiegmann helped move forward with a proposal in January. The dog was rescued from a Georgia shelter after its military veteran owner was recalled to active duty and sent overseas. For four months, Recon was trained by veterans at K9s For Warriors in Ponte Vedra, Florida. If a dog cannot be trained to work with a veteran, perhaps because of a physical condition, they are repurposed as therapy dogs for universities, hospitals, and first responders.

Anthony Harrison, chief of University Police, said Recon will also help promote wellness within the department and assist survivors of trauma to process and share experiences by serving as a distraction or relief from symptoms.

“The interaction with dogs has been shown to lower an individual’s heart rate and blood pressure,” Harrison said. “No matter how bad your day is going, a dog can help individuals cope with depression, homesickness, academic expectations, social anxiety, loneliness, and other mental health conditions.

“Dogs help reduce anxiety by providing immediate calm and offering support without judgment. I want to foster stronger connections by breaking down barriers between my officers and the campus community.”

Recon is not an “officer,” service, or traditional support dog, Wiegmann stressed, but a therapy dog whose purpose is to help provide comfort. Service dogs are trained to help their owner, while therapy dogs help others and are trained to interact with and comfort strangers.

Locally, the Fort Wayne Police Department uses a therapy dog to visit schools and events. Wiegmann researched the possibility before presenting the option to university administrators. The process took almost a year, including six months on the K9s For Warriors waiting list.

Wiegmann trained in Florida with Recon this spring. The dog is owned by the university and lives with Wiegmann’s family and their two dogs. By responding to Wiegmann’s verbal and hand signals, Recon is constantly rewarded with treats.

Wiegmann said he’s getting an extra 4,000 steps per day with Recon, who works up to 90 minutes and then gets an hour off to relax. Usually, Wiegmann said, the duo makes three or four trips around campus daily. A couple of weeks ago, they were walking in Gates Sports Center when they met the entire women’s softball team, which rushed over to meet Recon. They might have been late to practice to give a few extra belly rubs.

“I always say `hi’ to people, but this is a way to start a conversation,” said Wiegmann, a 16-year veteran with University Police, “and it’s amazing how easy he makes it to talk with people. That allows me to ask, `Hey, how is your day going?’ or `How are classes going?’ and they start to open up.

“He allows us to reinforce that the police department is there to help you. My hope is students start to feel comfortable with us one-on-one. We’re not scary people, and we’re not just there when it comes to a crisis or a problem, but even when you just need to talk.”

Recon loves to play with other dogs, but hasn’t figured out how to track down balls or play catch with a Frisbee. Krissy Surface, vice chancellor for enrollment management and the student experience, donated some mastodon stuffed animals that are Recon’s favorite toys.