Some dogs are born for a special purpose, and for Beacon, that purpose became clear when he found his place as a Facility Dog at the East Hartford Police Department.
In May of 2024, Beacon was transferred to our Northeast Campus for professional training from Guiding Eyes for the Blind. While Beacon didn’t make it as a Guide Dog, he was a perfect fit for Facility Dog training. Beacon found his perfect match with Marc and the East Hartford Police Department, where he was placed in December.
A New Role for Beacon
Marc and Beacon during their placement week
Marc and his colleagues had been hoping to bring a Facility Dog to their department for years, inspired by the success other police departments had seen.
“There are several police departments that have facility dogs, and the feedback from their departments has been very positive,” Marc shared.
“We have a well-established community engagement team here in East Hartford. We believe including Beacon in all our community events would be well received. The team also felt that having a Facility Dog on staff would help improve morale at the police station.”
Beacon made an immediate impression. “We were all very excited when we learned Beacon was arriving. We had been on a waitlist with other organizations for the better part of two years, so hearing that Beacon was coming to us was a relief,” Marc said.
“Our first impression was how big and calm he was, as well as how friendly he appeared.”
Making an Impact
Beacon has been a big hit in the community of East Hartford.
Every day, Beacon joins Marc at the police department, where his presence brightens the atmosphere. With over 150 employees, including officers and civilian staff, there are always new faces to greet—and Beacon is happy to meet them all.
“Beacon is still learning the ins and outs of our department. He is constantly being introduced to new officers and civilians. Beacon immediately puts smiles on everyone’s faces,” Marc said. “Once he becomes more settled, we will specifically use him in more trauma-related situations.”
Beyond the department, Beacon is becoming a beloved ambassador in the community.
“Beacon has already been a big hit, especially in our new Senior Center. Seeing everyone there absolutely adore him was fun to witness,” Marc shared.
Beacon has been a wonderful ambassador to the police department, and for dogs as a whole. “We have also done visits to schools, and the kids loved him as well. One student was deathly afraid of dogs; however, by the end of our time together, Beacon was in the student’s lap, and the student was thrilled.”
Beacon meets new people on a regular basis in his role as a Facility Dog with the East Hartford Police Department.
Beacon’s training allows him to engage meaningfully with the people he meets.
“The community loves seeing how well Beacon listens and how well-behaved he is,” Marc said. “Having Beacon stay on someone’s lap has proven to be helpful for some of the high school students and putting him in a down-stay position has worked really well for our younger children.”
Gratitude for Beacon’s Journey
Marc is deeply appreciative of everyone who played a role in getting Beacon to where he is today. “There has obviously been a lot of work that went into raising Beacon. He has such a sweet demeanor and loves people,” Marc said.
“I am constantly being told how impressed people are with how well-trained he is and how well he listens. This speaks volumes to the amount of consistency and effort that went into preparing Beacon for his role here.”
Thanks to the dedication of Puppy Raisers, trainers, and generous donors, Beacon is bringing comfort, healing, and joy to those who need it most.
Would your workplace and the people you serve benefit from a Facility Dog? Visit dogsforbetterlives.org/facility-dogs to learn more about their work, and apply.
