Oliver, a six-year-old black labrador, who has been assisting Kent Police by comforting victims and witnesses following traumatic experiences has been awarded with a medal.
Detective Constable Rachel Freeman who has been working with Oliver in Kent was delighted to see him presented with a PDSA Order of Merit at an awards ceremony in London for his outstanding contribution to society.
The event took place last week, on Thursday 14th July 2022, where Oliver was joined by Rachel and one of his handlers, Doctor Elizabeth Spruin, who is a psychologist and has been working with him since he was flown to the UK from America in 2018 and her colleague Doctor Katarina Mozova.
Oliver has been specially trained to support vulnerable victims and witnesses of crime and has been part of a project between Kent Police and Canterbury Christchurch University to see if he can make a difference, the first scheme of its kind in the UK.
The PDSA Order of Merit is given to animals in recognition of exceptional acts of devotion to their owners or society and represents outstanding examples of the special bond that exists between animals and humans.
Oliver is so calm and often just sits next to someone or by their feet to provide a little reassurance
DC Rachel Freeman said ‘I first became involved with Oliver at our police college where I trained officers in how to interview vulnerable victims. As a specialist safeguarding officer, I was aware of how dogs like Oliver were supporting victims in America and Canada and was really struck by how helpful this could be and really hoped one day we would have dogs like him in the UK’.
‘It then became a reality and I started working with Doctor Spruin and Doctor Mozova, to enable Oliver to support vulnerable victims in Kent whilst they talk to officers during police interviews.’
PDSA Vet Nurse, Nina Downing, said ‘PDSA is honoured to celebrate Oliver’s pioneering and vital role, assisting those most in need of support. We have been incredibly moved by his life-changing actions. Oliver is a thoroughly deserving recipient of the PDSA Order of Merit’.
As for Oliver himself, what did he think of the medal? Well, he did not seem that taken with it, as he preferred to get stuck into a nice gravy bone instead!
