Buddy, the new Tyler County Sheriff’s Office therapy dog
April 2, 2020
In Tyler County, there’s a new sheriff in town. Well, not exactly a new sheriff.
Meet K9 Buddy, the county’s new therapy dog serving residents in the area.
“Buddy’s been awesome,” said Sheriff Brian Weigle. “He really helps us all out.”
Buddy is a 6-month-old English Lab. He’s the newest member of the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office and he has a very special role.
“Mainly he’s going to be there for the children,” said Buddy’s handler Sergeant Mitch Corley. “I’m the school resource officer in Tyler County, I’m one of three.”
Buddy will be roaming the halls of the county’s schools to help bring the officers closer to the community.
“We’ve seen a rise in substance abuse, domestic abuse and other issues in the home,” said Sergeant Corley. “It’s a good break in the barrier.”
“Kids are our future and whatever we can do to help them, that’s what we’re wanting to do,” said Sheriff Weigle.
The coronavirus pandemic has all of the schools empty, but this is giving Buddy’s handler time to get to know his partner that he’s only had for three weeks.
“It’s gave me some time to train more one on one with him and him to get used to me,” said Sergeant Corley. “I think it’s helped but I’m sure he can’t wait to get into the school.”
Buddy will be joining fellow Tyler County K9 Queso, but his work is not about finding criminals and will extend much farther than the classroom.
“We can go to the senior centers, we can go elsewhere,” said Sheriff Weigle.
The sheriff saying that Buddy is there for the entire county, whenever they need him.
While Sergeant Corley says having Buddy around the office has been fun so far, he said he can’t wait to get his new partner into the schools.
Most Recent News
Former Victoria man’s diabetic alert dog helps him get back to life
When Luke Hengen’s diabetes worsened in his early twenties, it stripped him of the outdoor activities where the country kid felt at home. Countless wilderness adventures and years of hard-fought football games took a toll on his body, to the point where he could no longer sense when his blood sugar was too high or […]
Students Get Therapy Dog
When middle school students return to class on Jan. 11, they’ll find a new face at the door: Daisy. Daisy is a therapy dog and the personal pet of Rob Kreger, principal of the Rock L. Butler Middle School. The five-year-old golden retriever is not a school pet or mascot, but rather a working dog […]
Therapy Dogtor
Last March, Caroline Benzel, a third-year medical student, began to notice the stress and discomfort her nurse friends were feeling from the pressures of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. “[Personal protective equipment] can be really rough on the skin,” Benzel, 31, tells PEOPLE. Benzel and her 3-year-old Rottweiler, Loki (who’s also a therapy dog) hatched a […]
Therapy Dog Pups
When Stanley the miniature fox terrier’s owner passed away, the little dog started a ‘paw-some’ new role – bringing puppy love to some of the Gold Coast’s oldest residents. After Carinity Cedarbrook Diversional Therapist Julianne Staff adopted Stanley, he began visiting the aged care community at Mudgeeraba as a therapy dog. Therapy dogs help to […]
Puppy Cams
A nonprofit is providing an unusual form of therapy for those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic – puppy cams! “You spend five minutes with a puppy and try not to smile,” said registered nurse Robin Lingg Lagrone. Lingg Lagrone says watching little furballs wag their tails and prance on their paws helps […]
Pet Committee
When Moore County’s school doors were abruptly closed earlier in 2020, two- and four-legged volunteers from the Moore County Citizens’ Pet Responsibility Committee (PRC) were in their 12th year of presenting a six-session Pet Responsibility Education Program for fourth-graders. The PRC quickly shifted gears and placed its program materials online as part of a home […]