Sheriff’s Office introduces new health and wellness pup K-9 Yoda

Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta recently announced the addition of K-9 Yoda to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Yoda is a certified health and wellness service dog from the organization Puppies Behind Bars.

First Sergeant Jeremy Yela, the K-9 Unit supervisor, recently completed a two-week training course at Green Haven Correctional Facility. During this time, he and Yoda were matched by the Puppies Behind Bars staff. Yoda, who spent two years being raised from eight weeks old by incarcerated individuals, has mastered over 50 commands.

According to the county, the K-9 Team, consisting of Yoda and First Sergeant Yela, is “uniquely equipped to provide comfort and support to emergency services personnel throughout Orange County. By simply interacting with Yoda, these dedicated professionals can reduce stress following critical incidents.”

Sheriff Arteta emphasizes the importance of mental wellness for law enforcement officers: “It is unfortunate that the suicide rate among our colleagues is nearly double that of line-of-duty deaths each year. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is committed to reducing this alarming statistic while promoting peace, comfort, and wellness for those who serve our community.”

For more information, contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Office First Sergeant Jeremy Yela at JYela@OrangeCountyGov.com or visit the sheriff’s office’s social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.

Puppies Behind Bars is a nonprofit organization that trains incarcerated individuals to raise service dogs for various purposes, including assisting law enforcement agencies. Their mission is to transform lives through the human-canine bond. More information can be found at PuppiesBehindBars.com.