An adorable pooch was sacked from a guide-dog training as she was a little bit distracted and her love for running after squirrels suddenly took over.

That’s not ideal when helping a blind person.

But 5-year-old River has a loving and kind nature that made her the right candidate as a therapy animal. She has recently been recruited to become a therapy dog and help vulnerable individuals.

River will now be helping people suffering from mental illnesses.

Sergeant Ian Sutton of Maidstone Police Station in Kent said: “We are often dealing with people in crisis and although their behaviour has resulted in arrest, they could be suffering with depression, anxiety or mental illness.

“Young people may find themselves in custody too and in some cases they are scared and daunted by the experience, whilst others may have difficulty in communicating.”

He added: “Being detained can exacerbate these issues and we are committed to ensure that police custody is a safe and supportive environment for both police, staff and detainees. We are always looking for new or innovative ways to achieve this.”

River was accredited as a therapy dog by the Pets as Therapy organization in 2016.

Assessed by Kent Police’s dog unit trainers, River has since been transferred for a new challenge.

“River has joined the team to offer emotional support to people who are experiencing difficulties, she provides a therapeutic benefit to those in crisis and helps to counter some of the negative behaviour we sometimes experience in custody,” Sgt. Sutton said.

“Since beginning work with us she has had a notable positive impact on those she has spent time and the atmosphere in custody improves when she is on shift.

“This allows staff and officers to use their time more effectively rather than diffusing situations.”

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