The man who played an integral role in introducing the RNC’s support dog and Equine Therapy program is expressing dismay that both mental wellness programs have gone by the wayside.
Jim Hynes, an avid animal lover, donated Stella, a Portuguese water dog to help support mental wellness within the RNC and the community at large.
(Stella and her handler Krista Fagan.)
The little dog and her handler Krista Fagan were introduced to the province in July of 2020.
In the meantime, the Equine Therapy program, involving two Newfoundland ponies kept on the grounds of Government House, was introduced in the summer of 2021, but as Hynes told VOCM Open Line with Paddy Daly, that too has been dismantled.
He says the two ponies, which proved popular with the public, where there for 15 months, but “absolutely zero” equine therapy was carried out using the two animals.
Hynes expressed his concern to Justice Minister John Hogan when it appeared as though the programs were being dismantled after Chief Joe Boland left.
(RNC Chief Joe Boland.)
He was assured that it was not being eliminated, but in November he was contacted and told that the K-9 unit would not be working with him any more, “and the same thing with the Mounted Unit and same thing with Stella.”
Hynes says he was involved in the programs for the benefit of officers dealing with the stresses and strains of police service.
He says Krista Fagan was injured, and Stella gave her new life. “Every time you seen that little dog…you seen that officer with a smile on her face.” He says Stella also had an important role with victim services and helping people testifying in court. He recalls a case where a child was in court and Stella licked the tears off her face. There’s “something definitely wrong here” says Hynes.
