ARLINGTON Va. (7News) — There’s a furry friend you may run into at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and he’s on a mission to help first responders.
Tiller is a facility dog. He plays a vital role in the mental health of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department officials.
The three-year-old black Labrador is trained as a service dog.
In addition to his calm presence, Tiller reduces stress and anxiety by applying pressure to individuals, according to a statement from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department.
Tiller began training at just 8 weeks old in Virginia Beach before he was brought to Reagan Airport.
It normally takes about two years for a puppy to be a fully trained facility dog, according to Brooke Corson, executive director of Mutts with a Mission.
Mutts with a Mission trains service dogs, then places facility dogs with peer support teams and police departments.
“We have a pretty good process of specific things that we’re looking for that we think that the we make the puppy successful service dogs or facility dogs,” Corson said. “We train our facility dogs to the exact same standard as our service dogs, and when they’re about six months finished in their training, or six months left in their training, we decide, is it more of a people-oriented dog, and will task train. And the task they’ll need for a facility dog, or is it more, you know, one person oriented, and then we’ll task train to be a service dog.”
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority’s police department has been working with Mutts with a mission for years.
“Tiller’s sole mission is the health and wellness of our staff,” Lt. Timothy Blayman told 7News. “That’s what he was trained to do, and that’s what he does on a day-to-day basis — so his training and his obedience, and his ability to kind of connect with people really allows him to do that job,” he added.
The officers believe having Tiller around is a gateway for officers with overall health and wellness.
“Anytime Tiller is around, the stress and anxiety can see it just wash away from our staff,” David Huchler, Chief of Police at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, said.
“We do believe that a healthy and well officer can serve their community more effectively, and when that happens, we all win,” Huchler said.
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