The Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office launched its Critical Incident K9 and Wellness Dog Program, in November 2025, designed to support the emotional well-being and resilience of both first responders and the community following traumatic or high-stress events.

The new program introduces specially trained K9 that will serve in two key capacities:

• Critical Incident Response Dogs – deployed to provide emotional support to first responders and community members affected by traumatic events.
• Wellness Dogs – are assigned to support the mental health and morale of Sheriff’s Office staff, visiting stations, dispatch centers, jail and other workspaces to promote emotional wellness and reduce occupational stress.

“These dogs bring comfort, connection, and calm in the midst of chaos,” said Sheriff Butler. “Our deputies, dispatchers and other first responders see and experience difficult situations every day. The Critical Incident K9 and Wellness Dog Program allows us to address the emotional impact of those experiences while also helping our community heal.”

The program is part of the Sheriff’s Office’s broader Wellness and Critical Incident Response Team, which focuses on proactive mental health support, peer counseling, and community engagement. The K9 teams will receive specialized training in stress response, crisis intervention, and trauma-informed support.

The first member of the team, K-9 DJ, and handler Deputy Pence, will be completing a certification program once DJ reaches a certain age. Currently DJ and Deputy Pence are assigned to Randolph Central School. They will begin serving immediately in both internal wellness visits and community critical incident responses.

“Our goal is simple,” Sheriff Butler added. “We want to make sure that our people and our community know—it’s okay not to be okay, and help is always available.”

The Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office joins a growing number of law enforcement agencies nationwide that recognize the vital role of wellness initiatives in building resilience and improving overall mental health.

Community members may see the Critical Incident K9 and Wellness K9 at public events, schools, and first responder facilities in the coming months as part of ongoing outreach and engagement efforts.

Learn more about the K-9s and the Critical Incident K9 and Wellness K9.