A TEAM of furry recruits has been established by ambulance bosses, much to the delight of dog-loving paramedics.
The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) has grown its wellbeing department after deciding to add further support dogs to the team.
A celebratory dog walk introduced the new recruits in Bury St Edmunds before International Dog Day.
The service dogs will provide essential assistance and companionship around the clock for staff members after experiencing traumatic events.
Known as GoodDOGS, the animals are pets belonging to staff members which have undergone a special assessment authorised by Canine Concern.
The scheme started in April with the recruitment of the first three dogs.
Amanda Harris, project lead, said: "The inspiration for this initiative came from a proposal in 2019 to have staff members bring their own dogs to workstations, emergency operation centres, and offices.
"Although the proposal was initially approved, the pandemic hindered its implementation.
"When I learned about Cambridgeshire Police's welfare dog project in 2020, I realised it was exactly what our teams needed.
"After consultations and discussions, I decided to revive the project and introduce our own GoodDOGS to EEAST."
The EEAST currently has 17 dogs enlisted while 50 more are awaiting their assessment before receiving their ID badge.
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