Our first international guest from Saskatchewan, Canada. Sergeant Tia Froh and Merlot serve in the Regina Police Service. She shares how she manages her life, and schedules with her facility dog while working as a police officer. Tia also shares with us what it’s like to live in Merlot’s world.
You can follow along with Merlot on Instagram at padsk9merlot.
Episode Highlights
1:00 – Meet Sgt Tia Froh & Merlot of the Regina Police Service in Saskatchewan Canada
2:30 – Many facility dogs serve throughout the justice process.
3:20 – The “Point of First Contact Principal”
4:30 – Greeting those coming to the facility
5:30 – The facility that Tia and Merlot work in
8:00 – What the Canadian justice and legal system looks like
10:10 – Additional team members in the community
11:00 – How facility dogs get involved in the justice system
14:10 – Building confidence
15:30 – Merlot the Accredited Justice Facility Dog
19:15 – Understanding working vs not working time for the facility dog
22:30 – Jim explains the mental strength facility dogs need to have
25:40 – Facility dogs behavioral changes during down time
31:20 – Managing Merlot’s schedule
35:40 – Supporting officers in critical mission debriefs
37:35 – Canada’s criminal code support person explained
39:300 – Support person roles in cases in Canada and the United States
44:0 – How the facility dogs know who to serve
47:30 – The role of a handler to help prioritize the facility dogs attention
50:45 – Tia’s journey to becoming a handler
56:00 – Adjustments to work and personal life after becoming a handler
1:00:30 – Recognizing the facility dogs help the handlers as well
1:04:45 – Settling into the environment as time goes on
1:06:30 – Covid scheduling changes
1:08:30 – Highlighting Merlot’s work on Social Media
1:10:00 – Educating & building community engagement with police officers
Links To References