Callington community fire station has a new addition to the team: Boss.

Boss (Bossiney) is a 21-week-old labrador born into a litter specifically bred to become service, therpay, welfare, medical or assistance dogs.

He is owned by Callington Tri-Service officer Ella Henwood. The Tri-Service Safety officers role is to provide early intervention, prevention and an operational response. They work collaboratively with Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, Devon and Cornwall Police, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and Cornwall Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team.

All three emergency services are set to benefit from Boss with the aim for him to be a therapy dog within the Tri-Service team and to act as support to vulnerable individuals, support staff and promote positive mental health and wellbeing through a therapeutic approach.

Individuals who will benefit from working with Boss include: residential care homes, individuals with mental health conditions or neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia, children in primary schools, individuals with learning disabilities or additional needs, vulnerable individuals and Blue Light staff (from the central three emergency service families). Boss is set to go through extensive training over the next two years and must pass various tests along the way to ensure he is up to standard. Once he has ‘graduated’ Boss will be independent within the workplace and able to work with individuals on a one-to-one basis.