Santa Cruz, CA – In February 2026, K9 Nova, a Labrador retriever, joined the police department as the first therapy dog in our K9 program. Her name, inspired by the term ‘nova’ meaning a sudden large increase in brightness, reflects our hope that she brings comfort and warmth to those she meets. Therapy dogs receive specialized training to help ease stress and support emotional well-being.
Introducing a therapy dog to our K9 program has been a longstanding goal for the Santa Cruz Police Department. Chief Bernie Escalante stated, “The department prioritizes employee wellness, and having a therapy dog is a significant milestone for both our staff and the community. Therapy dogs are trained to help reduce short-term anxiety after critical incidents for employees, victims, and witnesses.”
K9 Nova is the first Therapy Dog at the Santa Cruz Police Department. This achievement was made possible by the support of Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, which provided funding for Nova’s purchase and initial therapy dog certification training. Chief Escalante stated, “The Foundation’s mission is to bring together people, ideas, and resources to inspire philanthropy and accomplish great things, and that is exactly what they are doing by helping with this great addition of a Therapy Dog to our organization.” We are grateful for the Foundation’s generous donors, including Elizabeth and David Doolin, Rebecca and Bud Colligan, Theresa and Larry Biggam, and all community members who helped us bring this important program to our employees and the public.
The Santa Cruz Police Department looks forward to the further development of this program and the impact it will have not only on the department but also on the entire city of Santa Cruz.
