LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas Department of Public Safety has a new addition to its team, and his name is Ruger!

The long-haired dachshund mix was introduced a month ago as a resource for the department’s wellness program, which they launched last year.

The department hired Teresa Hardy, a licensed counselor and therapist, to support the program, and she wanted to add a service dog as another resource.

Mike Hagar, the Secretary of Public Safety and Director of the Arkansas State Police, supported the decision to prioritize mental health, as they lost seven members of the public safety family to suicide last year.

“We had not done enough,” Hagar said. “This is a long career. It’s a taxing career, and people see the worst in humanity. They see tragedy every day, and we knew we had to

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