Published: 9/22/2023 11:13:43 AM
Modified: 9/22/2023 11:13:04 AM
GREENFIELD — Comfort canine Frank and his handler, Greenfield Police Officer Matthew Llewelyn, have been just lately acknowledged by Dakin Humane Society with the Distinguished Animal Award.
“It was a surprise,” stated Llewelyn. “I didn’t even know we were nominated or anything like that, so when I got the email, it was great news to find out that he got recognized for something like this.”
Dakin Humane Society offers out its Humane Awards yearly in recognition of people who make a optimistic distinction within the lives of animals and other people. The Humane Awards honor residents of the Pioneer Valley who share Dakin’s perception that the way in which we deal with animals displays the well being of our group.
The Distinguished Animal Award was considered one of six awards offered by Dakin Humane Society earlier this month. Other recipients included Marina Bayeva of the nonprofit Help Animals Survive the War in Ukraine, the primary grade college students of Milton Bradley School in Springfield, West Springfield Animal Control Officer and Animal Health Inspector Jessecah Gower, longtime foster volunteer Jerry Marchand and VCA Animal Hospitals.
Frank, a chocolate lab whose sire, Hank, serves as a consolation canine for the Lunenburg Police Department, was donated to the Greenfield Police Department by Boonefield Labradors, Deputy Police Chief William Gordon stated beforehand. Frank, usually referred to as “Frankie,” joined the division in November 2022 and makes use of the identical Ok-9-fitted cruiser because the late Clarence. Once absolutely educated, Frankie and Llewelyn will primarily work with the division’s clinician to assist defuse lively behavioral well being crises.
“It’s been going great,” Llewelyn stated. “It’s fun to see him grow and learn, and I’m obviously learning … with him, so it’s cool to see him evolve.”
Llewelyn stated Frankie nonetheless has a couple of courses left to do however has handed the Canine Good Citizen program. The subsequent class might be to obtain his remedy canine certification, at which level “we’ll pretty much be at the finish line.”
Since final November, Frankie and Llewelyn have attended funerals, participated in Coffee with a Cop and guide readings on the Academy of Early Learning, and attended group occasions at Beacon Field and Schuetzen Verein in Gill. On Saturday, they plan to go to Valley Medical Group on Conway Street for the inaugural Health and Wellness Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We’re literally all over the map,” Llewelyn stated.
Frankie adopted within the paw prints of Clarence, the Police Department’s longtime consolation canine who was euthanized final 12 months after a interval of declining well being.
Gordon beforehand stated Frankie was named in honor of Frank Roche, the division’s first assigned group policing officer, who labored with the Greenfield Police Department from 1976 to 1998. He was additionally a Marine veteran who died 24 years in the past of a sudden sickness regarded as resulting from his service in Vietnam.
To request a go to with Frankie, e mail Llewelyn at [email protected].
Reporter Mary Byrne could be reached at [email protected] or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.
