Snowbird, the newest member of USF St. Petersburg’s University Police Department (UPD), will receive his badge and become the campus’ first-ever comfort dog, assisting the department with calls related to mental health in the campus community.
The swearing-in ceremony will take place Thursday, June 20, at 2 p.m. in the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library Atrium at USF St. Petersburg.
Snowbird, a Golden Retriever and a Labrador Retriever mix, is a facility therapy dog, which means he was trained to work in a facility such as a school to provide therapeutic benefits.
Unlike service dogs that are trained to perform specific tasks for people with disabilities, facility therapy dogs focus on providing emotional support and enhancing well-being.
Snowbird will work alongside his handler, Ofc. Mark Lickenfelt, who has been with the UPD since 2006.