Perhaps the most popular member of a law-enforcement department is the resident police dog.
In Bethel Park, an affable pooch named Leo had the opportunity to bask in esteem as an honorary K9 for a Day, complete with his own silver badge.
Following his swearing-in at the municipal building by Amber DiFranco, Bethel Park’s community resource officer, Leo spent time at various locations to meet members of the community as part of a new program highlighting opportunities to adopt pets from animal shelters.
The 1-year-old boxer-pit bull mix was chosen for the March 22 occasion as the longest-staying resident of Angel Ridge Animal Rescue in Chartiers Township, having been there for about six months.
“Leo came to us as a transfer from another shelter, and because we are a no-kill shelter and a sanctuary, he will stay with us as long as he needs to, until he finds a home,” said Bethel Park resident Hannah Ketterman, who serves on the Angel Ridge board.
Andrea Tomsic, the nonprofit’s fundraising coordinator, brought Leo to Bethel Park to be K9 for a Day.
“He drove in the car like a dream. Well, he didn’t drive. I drove,” she joked. “He is great with other dogs, and he’s definitely a people pleaser. It’s rare to have a dog that will just go up to strangers without even blinking.”
DiFranco was already familiar with Leo.
“I was down there a couple of weeks ago walking him around, and he’s just a great dog,” she said. “He’s young and energetic, and he’s going to make someone a great family member.”
The officer, in fact, recently made her own Angel Ridge adoption of a dog she named Piper.
“You can go to a shelter and find the purebred you’re looking for. You can find puppies. Whatever you’re looking for in a dog, you can pretty much find in a shelter,” DiFranco said. “They say adoption saves two dogs. It saves the dog that you’re taking home, and then it opens up a spot for the next one coming in.”
She compiled a list of representatives from rescues and shelters who expressed interest in K9 for a Day events.
“Every couple of months, we want to give everyone an opportunity to showcase the great things that they do,” she said. “We have such a great community in Bethel Park. They’re so supportive of us, so we try to give back any way we can.”
For further support of Angel Ridge, a charity bingo game is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. May 18 at the Bethel Park Community Center. Tickets can be purchased at the rescue site, at the door or at Baily’s Cat Haven, which Angel Ridge operates at 2650 Brownsville Road in South Park.
As for Bethel Park’s K9 for a Day, Leo launched the program in optimal fashion.
“We knew he would be good, but did not expect him to be perfect the whole day,” Ketterman said. “And he was!”
For more information about Angel Ridge Animal Rescue and adoption opportunities, visit angelridgeanimalrescue.org.