HAVING a pet at home can be invaluable to overall well-being, so why not bring them into the office too?
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This was the thought at Bacchus Marsh Police Station, where police officers have been given the tick of approval to bring their pet pooches to work.
There are now a number of members who bring their dogs to the office each week, including Sergeant Glenn Saw.
He brings his ultiimutt best friend - three and a half year old Golden Retriever Molly - to work several times a week.
"It's good for member welfare - it's always good to have a dog to pat," he said.
The pawsitively cute pooch takes her role seriously and wears a high-vis pawlice vest and cap when she is on duty.
While a yard has been properly fenced off for the dogs to use, Molly prefers to be in the warm office where she receives endless pats and is able to sniff out a few snacks too.
Sergeant Saw often takes Molly on walks around Bacchus Marsh village. While she enjoys being on pawtrol due to all of the pats she receives, he said she was often the catalyst for a conversation to start with community members and helped to create a positive interaction between police and young children.
"A lot of people come up and want to pat her and then all of a sudden a conversation starts," Sergeant Saw said.
"She brightens up people's days - not only police members but also the wider community too. She puts a smile on people's faces."
She brightens up people's days - not only police members but also the wider community too. She puts a smile on people's faces.
- Sergeant Glenn Saw
Acting Superintendent Damien Christensen said the move was a strategy to keep employees happy in the workplace.
"It's healthy to have your pet dog come to work for mental health and wellbeing," he said.
"The dogs love it, the people love it - it's just good for morale."
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