The newest K9 you will see on the street for the Door County Sheriff’s Department will try to sniff out snuggles rather than drugs. Finn, an Australian Labradoodle, was introduced by the department ahead of the holiday weekend as he goes through therapy dog training in hopes of being certified soon. The Door County Board of Supervisors approved the addition to the force last year after being donated by Blueberry Cottage Labradoodles in Osseo, Wis. The business has donated more than a dozen therapy dogs to local police departments and district attorney offices across the state, including Tomah, Hobart, De Pere, and La Crosse. The therapy dog will be primarily used for crisis response, victim and witness support, and mental health and wellbeing programs. Coordinated Response Specialist Kyanna Francour says Finn has already brought a lot of smiles to the department and she looks forward to what Finn can accomplish when he is a fully certified therapy dog.

The Door County Crime Prevention Fund, which is also responsible for helping bring K-9 units to Door County, has been fundraising to help offset the costs of caring and training for the dog.