Calgary Police Service welcomes its first Operational Stress Intervention Dog
We are pleased to welcome Sadie, the Calgary Police Service’s (CPS) first-ever Operational Stress Intervention Dog, in partnership with Wounded Warriors Canada, B.C. and Alberta Guide Dogs and Pulling Together for Mental Health. This milestone marks a significant step forward in the Service’s ongoing commitment to supporting the mental health and wellness of its members.
Sadie, a highly trained black Labrador retriever, will work alongside CPS wellness staff to provide general support to sworn and civilian members, as part of the CPS’s Peer Support program. Operational Stress Intervention Dogs are specifically trained to help reduce physiological symptoms of stress, promote emotional grounding, and create a calming presence during times of trauma, crisis, or high operational demand.
“The health and well-being of all CPS members, both sworn and civilian, is essential to the work we do every day,” says Chief Katie McLellan of the Calgary Police Service. “Our first Operational Stress Intervention Dog represents a step forward in helping our members navigate the emotional demands of policing. This meaningful partnership with Wounded Warriors Canada, the B.C. and Alberta Guide Dogs, as well as Pulling Together for Mental Health, reinforces our commitment to creating a resilient, healthy workplace. When we take care of the people who serve the city, they’re better equipped to take care of the community.”
This initiative is made possible through a donation from Wounded Warriors Canada, a national mental health service provider specializing in trauma‑informed programming for uniformed service members and their families. Wounded Warriors Canada’s funding of Sadie was made possible thanks to the support of the Calgary-based Pulling Together for Mental Health annual fundraising event. Wounded Warriors Canada also supports the training provided by B.C. and Alberta Guide Dogs.
Sadie’s role will include:
- Supporting sworn and civilian members with debriefings, wellness appointments, and peer support activities
- Participating in training sessions and wellness programming
- Providing day‑to‑day emotional comfort for CPS members experiencing operational stress
“Police officers are required to respond to critical and potentially traumatic incidents on a daily basis,” said Scott Maxwell, CEO of Wounded Warriors Canada. “We know that repeated exposure to traumatic incidents can have long-lasting impacts on the members and, by extension, the organization itself. We also know the importance of being proactive and getting in front of these situations to help members feel safe, supported and understood. That’s a big part of the role Sadie will play with the Calgary Police Service. We’re extremely grateful to the Pulling Together team for their support, which has made this pairing possible.”
“Sadie exists because a community pulled together,” said Jade Wong and Rory Thompson, Co-Founders, Pulling Together for Mental Health. “She represents the support of people who believe in the importance of Veteran and First Responder mental health, and we know she will have a lasting impact within the Calgary Police Service. This is why Pulling Together exists.”
“Operational Stress Intervention Dogs (OSID) from B.C. & Alberta Guide Dogs are professional working dogs that assist Trauma Exposed Professionals in a workplace environment to achieve therapeutic goals through specifically trained activities, and tasked behaviours, accompanied by a highly specialized temperament,” said Mike Annan, Director of Service Dogs with B.C. & Alberta Guide Dogs. “These highly trained intervention dogs are specially bred and selected for stress modulation and the capacity to absorb or redirect tension without being overwhelmed. Together, these specialized activities and capacities facilitate the dogs’ ability to work with many different people. This is done by way of assisting in achieving a wide variety of therapeutic goals as the OSID has been specifically bred, raised and trained by B.C. & Alberta Guide Dogs and our Certified Professional Service Dog Instructors in partnership with Wounded Warriors Canada to work with and support the Calgary Police Service and their employee well-being.”
The CPS Wellness and Resiliency Division will oversee Sadie’s daily deployment, with her handler specifically trained in occupational stress support.
The CPS joins a growing number of police and first responder agencies across Canada incorporating Operational Stress Intervention Dogs into their mental health strategies. The addition of Sadie reflects the Service’s broader commitment to strengthening early intervention, resilience, and long‑term support for its members.