The Victim Services Unit of the Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) focuses its efforts on the victims of crime against the person, which for many can mean an emotionally draining experience as they navigate the legal process.
To provide a degree of comfort to these victims, the police service has a fluffy black Labrador retriever who’s always willing to help brighten someone’s day.
Sven is the unit’s facility dog. The four-year-old service member joined the MJPS just over one year ago this winter, after originally coming from a specialized training program in B.C. by the name of PADS (Pacific Assistance Dogs Society).
Sven was named by his original owner and the name stuck. His litter was named after characters in Disney’s “Frozen” franchise, and he was named after the loyal and lovable reindeer in the popular children’s movies.
As he was trained at the judicial level, Sven can attend court and he can even be used as a testimonial aid. He’s permitted to go on the stand or in the soft room with a victim.
“That has been a big helping tool for people because court is scary. It’s just nice to have another tool (to assist with this),” explained Sven’s handler and Victim Services co-ordinator, Terri Roney.
When it comes to selecting a dog from PADS, the right dog is chosen for you based on the working dog’s intended job description.
“Sven was matched to the needs we felt we needed as a police service, and to support victims in our community,” Roney said.
Sven arrived in December 2022 and has been working with the MJPS ever since. His duties include assisting with emotional interviews, attending court, and supporting victims in a wide number of ways.
Due to Sven’s highly specialized role, he must qualify every year to keep his service dog status. This involves a yearly Public Access Test that has to receive a passing grade.
These tests are challenging, and Roney said it takes a lot for a dog to pass at the judicial level. Others from Sven’s program may have found this test difficult, but a variety of specialized roles such as hearing dogs exist to accommodate each dog’s strengths.
The tests have proven to be no match for Sven, who has now executed around 75 deployments since joining the MJPS.
Today, Sven accompanies Roney to work every day. His presence is clearly felt around the local police department as many officers can attest.
“Even I can say as a member working here… he knows if you’re having a crappy day and will come sit next to you and put his head in your lap,” explained Jeremy Anderson, MJPS’ liaison for Crime Stoppers. “He’s a real blessing to the department.”
Sven’s duty is to focus on the victims of crime, and many are young children who may have witnessed a violent act in progress. The Victim Services Unit assists by linking victims to proper counselling, and in order to determine what had transpired, these victims need to be in a position to communicate with police.
“We have a lot of kids who come forward and are hesitant (and) scared of the police,” Anderson noted.
Roney said that the department can now have the police dog attend a victim right in the interview room. This is extremely helpful to the MJPS as many children exhibit short attention spans and many are overcome by emotion.
“I’ve seen Sven come into a room where you have a hyper-active kid who is literally jumping up and down and screaming, to (having the) family sit down. They can start petting (Sven) and they calm down,” Anderson explained.
“It’s amazing. You put a dog in the room, who just wants to be loved… he gives that unconditional love back to the person, and they’re able to focus and talk to you.”
Officers can call on Sven if they feel it will help a victim, and the lovable black Lab has more than proven himself a credit to the department during his first year of service.
“We could not get the success that we do without (Roney’s) assistance and the assistance of Sven,” Anderson said.
