Welcome Blossom! New Certified Victim Advocate K-9 Specialist
By Garrett Christensen on Friday, November 25th, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
UNION COUNTY – The Union County District Attorney’s Office has welcomed a new team member. Blossom, an 18-month-old yellow lab, is the new Certified Victim Advocate K-9 Specialist.
Blossom was gifted free of charge to the DA’s office through an organization called Working Dogs Oregon.
Union County District Attorney Kelsie McDaniel noted that unlike other working K-9’s, like police dogs that aren’t designed to be engaged during times that they are working, that is what Blossom is designed for. When Blossom is working, she is designed to be touched and engaged with.
While working, Blossom will be helping victims and those in crisis in a variety of ways including but not limited to, going to court with victims and responding to calls for trauma and crisis services. When in court, Blossom can sit at the feet of a child, for instance, to help bring that child comfort during a scary and/or emotional time. It was also noted that she could go into Grand Jury with victims, like a child, who can’t have a person there with them to support them during that time.
McDaniel said that along with regular court appearances she would also be available for victim meetings, and it is hoped that she will also be available for law enforcement to use during crisis calls.
Darin Campbell with Working Dogs Oregon says that the program was started from “personal experiences involving my wife’s service dog…We started this journey in 2015 and we are quickly becoming the states authority on all things related to working dogs!”
Campbell noted that over the years they have dealt with several patrol dogs, K-9 first aid training and in March of 2020 they had the opportunity to take a former seeing-eye dog and turn it into a therapy/victim support dog. You can find more information on Working Dogs Oregon at https://www.workingdogsoregon.com/
In a social media post, Working Dogs Oregon described Blossom and how she became a victim advocate K-9.
“Blossom – from puppy to working adult. Blossom was always destined to serve. She was bred and sent to @dogsforbetterlives where an outstanding foundation in training was laid out. She was working towards becoming a hearing assistance dog. To be a service dog one must have focus and attention to their handler with a disability. Fortunately for Working Dogs Oregon, Blossom was too social. She loves people and wants to say hello to everyone. She became a career change dog. Her issues at Dogs for Better Lives are assets for our program.”
Blossom was given to the Union County District Attorney’s Office free of charge, and D&B Supply, who supports the program, provides all the food needed for Blossom.
McDaniel noted that Blossom really is a community dog, she is easily recognizable by her purple harness and color which is the color of Domestic Violence Awareness. However, she may get some holiday-themed colors to wear on occasion as well.
Follow the Union County District Attorney’s Office on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/UnionCountyDA to keep up to date on Blossom.
