OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) – A new member is joining the Winnebago County Medical Examiner’s Office, but this one has four legs.
K9 Brie
K9 Brie, a one-year-old goldendoodle, is joining the team at the Winnebago County Medical Examiner’s Office.
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But Brie is more than a pet, Deputy Medical Examiner McKenzie Repinski says. Brie will be a new therapy dog.
“[Brie will] act as a support or therapy dog for the office, she will work with us to support the families, different death scenes, along with other officers and people we respond to,” Repinski said.
Brie will help bridge the gap between the Medical Examiner’s Office and the public, creating a more comforting space for families when they need it most.
“I think having a dog there will help calm their nervous system until they are ready to talk with us,” said Repinski.
“[It] gives the ability to divide that attention, as you go through the stages of grief, having brie there to soothe you or make it easier, I can’t tell you how important that is,” Winnebago County Sheriff John Matz said.
The Winnebago County Jail has a therapy dog that provides support to inmates, and when Sheriff Matz saw the success there, he knew a therapy dog on the scene would provide similar results.
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“Our therapy dog in the jail is making a difference, so it was just a no-brainer that when Kensie talked to us about this, we would support it,” Sheriff Matz said..
Officials said K9 Brie has completed over 6,000 hours of training before her first day, and she is ready to lend a helping paw to everyone in the community.
