BONNYVILLE – After six years of offering a helping paw, Bonnyville Victim Services dog Odie is ready to retire.
The eight-year-old golden lab has become a familiar face around the region since he first arrived at the Bonnyville Victim Services Unit (VSU) in 2014, lending a listening ear and comforting nuzzle to anyone he's come into contact with.
But, after long days in the court rooms, at the detachment, and out in the community, Odie let his handler, Debbie Winstone, know it was time for him to pass on the responsibility to a new dog.
When he first started the job, Odie would sit with Winstone and a client for as long as needed. Lately, he's been showing in his own way that it's time to retire.
"He got to the point where he would come in, lie down, and then it was like, 'yeah, I'm done.' He would get up and walk out," said Winstone, who's also the Bonnyville VSU program manager. "With him, there were signs that he was getting tired."
Odie was brought on-board through Dogs with Wings. Based out of Edmonton, the program prepares service dogs for a variety of careers, and, after extensive training, matches them up with what kind of service they would be best suited for.
Winstone was the driving force behind bringing Odie to town. After seeing how well a VSU dog was received in another community, she started the process to bring a dog to the local unit.
When she spoke with then-detachment commander Luis Gandolfi about the possibility, he was quick to give the go-ahead.
"When I was approached by Deb, she asked me how I would feel about it and whether there would be any (interest) for us to do that here," recalled Gandolfi. "I said, 'of course, yes. We'll try anything that's good for the community and crime prevention."
At the time, Odie was just the second victim services dog in Canada to be placed with an RCMP-based VSU.
His job sees him travel across the region to offer emotional support to victims in court rooms in Bonnyville, Lloydminster, Wainwright, St. Paul, Lac La Biche, and Vegreville.
"With animals, it's scientifically proven that they lower blood pressure and the different stress chemicals that are release in your body when you're under stress," explained Winstone. "He's just there, and he lends a calming presence."
Odie also is on-hand to comfort witnesses and victims during interviews with officers and acts as an ambassador for Bonnyville VSU, attending various community events.
For the past two years, Bonnyville member Cst. Tyson Douglas has had the opportunity to see Odie in action.
"I've used him in a couple of child interviews and with other investigations with youth, and he does wonders," Douglas exclaimed. "We'll actually book interviews when he's around if he's not busy."
While his impact in the community is evidant, what many don't see is the effect that Odie has within the detachment. He's become an integral part of the team, so much so that officers have set up a bed in the bullpen for Odie, which they call his office.
"He's always happy to see you in the morning with his tail wagging," noted Cpl. Pedro Rodrigues. "Everyone pets him and he's been a really good addition."
When Gandolfi first agreed to bring Odie into the Bonnyville VSU, he never imagined just how much they would appreciate having him around the office.
"There's always critical incidents happening and our members benefit from him... As far as the members and staff here go, he's helped a lot. Just the wet nose or a little pat on the head sometimes goes a long way towards helping you feel better."
Douglas added, "Just having him at the office helps when we come back from a bad collision or call."
For Winstone, Odie has been a constant companion for the last six years. As his handler, wherever they go, they go together.
"If we go out for supper, he comes with us. They're not just dogs, they're raised to be with their people," she said, adding that handlers commit to working with the VSU for as long as the dog is there, along with all of the responsibility that comes with owning a pet.
Roughly a year ago, Dogs with Wings put Bonnyville VSU in the cue for a new dog to help Odie make the transition into retirement. Winstone decided when the new dog comes, it will also be time for her to pass on the leash to a new handler.
It's a role Connie Chileen, assistant program manager for Bonnyville VSU, is excited to step into.
"When Debbie went into it, she didn't have the benefit of knowing what it looks like >I got to see what it looks like, so I think it's a little bit easier for me to make the commitment because I see what Debbie and Odie are doing. I'm really looking forward to being able to do what they do."
It will be a couple of years yet before Odie is able to fully retire. Once the new victim services dog arrives, they will shadow Odie and slowly take over some of his responsibilities. Eventally, his days at the detachment will decarease and he'll start calling the shots in terms of when he's on duty.
Although they don't have an exact date yet, the new four-legged Bonnyville VSU member is expected to arrive within the next couple of months.
