Llano County Mental Health Officer Jeff Phillips provides a discussion on the advantages of acquiring and moneying a treatment K-9 system for the county. Staff image by Dakota Morrissiey
Llano County commissioners authorized financing for a specifically qualified treatment dog to partner with the county’s psychological health officer throughout the routine conference of the Commissioners Court on Monday, April 10.
With the court’s approval, Llano County Mental Health Officer Jeff Phillips will acquire a young dog that will go through unique training to supply psychological and mental assistance on psychological health calls and be an outlet for public outreach in the county.
Phillips already had a dog in mind, a goldendoodle puppy that he thinks will be best for the job. Her name is Luna.
The dog costs $1,800, which Phillips put down as a deposit prior to the court’s approval to guarantee the county would wind up with the perfect animal.
“(The dog breeder) is holding (the puppy) with the deposit, which I put down because I feel so strongly about this program,” Phillips informed the court.
In addition to the purchase of the dog, training will cost $2,800. Phillips anticipates yearly expenses to be about $3,700 a year.
Funding for the dog is coming from an opioid settlement of around $100,000 that Llano County gotten from a class action claim versus a number of drug producers and pharmaceutical business.
A specification of the fund is that the money be utilized for psychological health services and training, that includes the treatment dog.
The dog will head out on psychological health calls, supply assistance to officers who have actually experienced high-stress occasions, see kids having problem with mental disorder, and see healthcare facilities, nursing houses, and regional occasions to engage with the neighborhood.
As a psychological health officer, Phillips makes preliminary evaluations throughout a crisis and offers assistance to victims throughout and after terrible occasions.
