Thank you to Blue Path Service Dogs and Michelle Brier for the opportunity and support in permitting our Police Officers to serve as "Puppy Raisers." Maverick is now ready to move on to formal training to become a service dog for a child with Autism. We are proud to have Bedford Police Department as the first department to raise a puppy for this purpose.
Thank you to Chief Melvin Padilla for supporting this program and the officers who put in the hard work and time to train Maverick, specifically the families of Sgt. Mark Montanaro, PO Andy Klein and PO Joe Sagliano. Their hard work is appreciated! Thank you also to the many members of the Bedford Police Department who helped take care of Maverick on their breaks and in between service calls. It has been a team effort and benefitted not only the puppy, the mission of Blue Path, but also the officers who received the stress-relief benefits of having Maverick around.
Beyond Maverick's training, he became part of the Bedford community and helped to shine a light on the work of Blue Path and the Town of Bedford's commitment to inclusion. Maverick has been all over town and has gotten to know so many of our residents. He will be missed and has left an indelible mark on our community. Visit our YouTube Channel to see Bedford's Tribute to Maverick's journey,
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Blue Path's expertly trained autism service dogs offer safety and freedom to families. A BluePath service dog’s primary role is to provide safety for a child out in public. The dogs are trained to prevent a child from bolting, either into the street or away from parents in a crowded area. They also provide children with much needed companionship, increased social acknowledgment from peers, opportunities for independence and increased levels of confidence.