Officer Layla

black labrador retriever sitting head tilt black labrador retriever and policeMeet Layla. Layla became a member of the Brookline family in the Spring of 2017. Layla was a handful, full of energy and listened only when she wanted to. She went to a family who returned her to Brookline because of her energy. Her foster parents vowed to find the right home for this little beauty. The foster parents realized that Layla needed a job so they contacted an organization that trains dogs to find different things using scent. She went to a preliminary training and below is the announcement from her proud foster parents.

It’s official, today (9-22-17) is the day the head trainer made the decision about Layla staying in the police scent dog training program. I just got official word and Layla is staying!!! She will continue through in their scent training program to become an official police scent dog.

She and her handler have bonded wonderfully. She’s very loyal and smart and HIGH energy! They called her the poster child for the kind of dogs they are looking for! The whole training program is 12 weeks. At the end, Nelson and I plan to attend her graduation. Expect pictures!

I am so proud of Layla and truly happy for her. She needed a job, but with her leash reactivity with new dogs we knew that she could not be an assistive physical or emotional support dog. However, this job is perfect for Layla. She lives to go, go, go. They have told me repeatedly that her energy is being focused on her work and she is very happy, and they are thrilled with her.

Today is bittersweet for me as I feel like I’ve officially let Layla go. Up until today I was mentally prepared to bring her back to foster care. Now I know that is not happening. Happy tears here for Layla. Congratulations to Layla on your new life. We miss you, but are sooooo proud of you!!!!

–Autumn and Nelson

All of Brookline is very proud of you Layla!

UPDATE:
Some of you may remember one of our foster dogs, Layla. The young, beautiful and highly, I mean HIGHLY energetic 1 year old female black lab. She went to canine scent school to be a police dog. She excelled in their program.

Today was the big day. She officially “graduated” their program and joined a police force in Nebraska! Yes, Nebraska. Originally she was going to stay in NJ, but her handler was reassigned, through no fault of Layla’s she was looking for a new partner/handler.

Black Labrador Retriever Police Officer, Man, WomenBlack Labrador Retriever and Police PatnerPolice Badages

A small town out in Nebraska reached out to Throw Away Dogs Project, that’s the group that trains these dogs for police work and then donates them to police departments. The Oakland, Nebraska police are retiring their one and only police dog and are in need of a new scent dog. Well, Layla has a recently certified nose and was looking for a new partner. Her soon-to-be partner/handler and the police chief (btw, that’s literally the whole police department!) drove out to NJ to meet and train with Layla.

The foster parents, Nelson Diebel and Autumn Labanoski, were invited to meet her handler and to see Layla at “work”. It was so nice to be able to see her one last time before she makes the 23 hour drive back out to Nebraska. Yes, her handler and the police chief drove 23 hours one way for the opportunity to work with Layla!

We weren’t sure if Layla would remember us. It’s been quite a few months since we last saw her. She came out ready to work. Then she smelled us and she remembered! She got all wiggly, and pushed her head into me and gave me Layla kisses. Happy tears!

We really liked her handler and the chief. Layla will be Will, her handler’s, canine partner and go to work with him. When she is off duty, she will be his family pet. After a full day of work, Layla is ready to settle and be loved, as all dogs should.

Congratulations again to Officer Layla! We’re all so proud of you!!!

If you are interested in adopting a Lab from Brookline Labrador Retriever Rescue, please visit our Web site, www.brooklinelabrescue.org, for more information on our adoption process. If you need additional information about the adoption process or whether you are in our coverage area, please send an e-mail to our Rescue at info@brooklinelabrescue.org

Even if you are not ready to adopt, you can still help us help our Labs!

Brookline Labrador Retriever Rescue is a 501(c)3 non-profit volunteer organization funded entirely by donations. Donations are always needed to help with veterinary costs, transportation, and supplies for our dogs. For information on donating to BLRR please click here. Donations are accepted via PayPal or you can mail a check to: Brookline Labrador Retriever Rescue, P.O. Box 638, Warrington, PA 18976-0638