CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. — Just eight weeks old, Davey traveled from Tennessee to Erie County, a big distance for a small pup.
Davey was a rescue from an overcrowded shelter and journeyed to Buffalo.
At the same time, Cheektowaga Police had asked the SPCA Serving Erie County for a dog they could train to be a therapy dog, and the shelter paired the two up, according to the shelter's social media.
The police department named the pup Davey after a patrolman, David Tolsma, who was killed in the line of duty on Oct. 20, 1977. He was responding to a robbery on Genesee Street when he died. Tolsma had been a part of the department for six years after he was in the U.S. Navy, according to the police.
Davey's first official date on duty was May 3, which was after he was neutered and received all of the age-appropriate vaccines.
Officer Jake Gawronski will be by Davey's side as the Therapy Animal Officer.
The SPCA reported on Instagram that his training is going great. To follow along his journey, visit his Instagram @daveyonduty.
For more information on their new wellness program, click here.