NEW KENT— Nala, a 7-week-old golden retriever, and New Kent Sheriff’s Office K-9 handler Eric Mitchell have a busy few months of training ahead. Nala will serve as a therapy dog in the New Kent public schools alongside Mitchell.
Nala was adopted from a local breeder in New Kent and will attend obedience training in the county, as well. Once she graduates from obedience training, Nala will have to be a year old before she can become a certified therapy dog.
“It’s not going to happen within in a couple weeks. It’s a lengthy process for her to earn her certification,” Mitchell shared.
Each day, Nala arrives at work with Mitchell at Quinton Elementary School. As the School Resource Officer, Mitchell and Nala roam the hallways at Quinton. From checking the safety of doors to offering support to students, Nala has already received a warm welcome.
“It’s good for the kids, where it can help with discipline, school life, home life. Seeing the joy that Nala brings out to the students … You know, I come to school and they are just swarming me wanting to see her. It’s been a positive thing for the schools,” Mitchell said.
Nala will work alongside another therapy dog at Quinton, her cousin Winnie.
“In 21 years, I’ve never had a K-9 companion that gets to go to work with me every day and it’s been such a rewarding experience,” Mitchell said.
According to New Kent County Sheriff Lee Bailey, Nala has also been instrumental in helping around headquarters by offering emotional support to officers and dispatchers.
“It really helps all of us. This is a stressful job. You never know what call you’re going to get. For the officer, they are responding to the call, they are on scene, they go through the experience, and they know the outcome. A lot of times with the 911 operators, they get the call of someone experiencing the worst day of their life and they hang up when officers are there and they move onto the next call. For them, they don’t have the closure from these calls and it can be traumatic. Nala can be something joyous for our staff that can be our little escape,” Bailey said.
Mitchell’s goals for Nala are to eventually be able to bring her to community events and to make a difference in the lives of the students and staff at Quinton Elementary School.
“If it could help a child or somebody else in the community, being in her presence can help ease whatever situation people might find themselves in, it’s worth it.”