Tails from the NOC: guide dogs visit community police officers

The Neighbourhood Operations Centre (NOC) had some furry visitors today.

Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind (CGDB) is a national charitable organization established in 1984, dedicated to enhancing the mobility and independence of Canadians by providing professionally trained guide dogs across the country and mobility assistance dogs within the Ottawa area.

After using transit, the dogs and their handlers stopped by the NOC to say hello to some of our community police officers. 

One dog in particular—a blonde Labrador named Gopher—had a special connection to the visit. As a beloved member of a police officer's family, Gopher played a key role in making the visit happen.

Gopher’s trainer, Anne Kennedy, is the mother of OPS community police officer Cst. James Kennedy. “It’s her first dog,” he said. “She’s had him for about a year now. All the dogs [in training] are between six and 24 months old.”

To find out more about Canadian Guide Dogs, or to donate, visit www.guidedogs.ca.