The University of Central Florida Police Department has added its first therapy dog to its team.
- UCF Police brings in therapy dog Paisley to comfort crime victims
- Paisley is paired with UCFPD Det. Matt Scott
- Scott and Paisley are graduates of Paws & Stripes College
Paisley, a 2-year-old treeing walker coonhound, was brought in to ease stress for victims of violent crime during police interactions. She is paired with UCFPD Det. Matt Scott to foster a comforting environment for victims of crimes, such as sexual assault, the department said.
“Paisley is going to be able to provide unconditional love, and victims will hopefully be able to get to a level of ease where they’re able to just disclose what occurred to them,” Scott said in a news release.
According to UCFPD, it is among the first campus police departments in the nation with an in-house therapy dog.
Scott and Paisley are both graduates of Brevard County Sheriff’s Office’s Paws & Stripes College, which provides support to trauma survivors with therapy dogs that were once shelter rescue dogs.
They are both completing training to become a nationally-registered therapy dog team.