Hudson
ADI certified Facility Dog serving the Harrisonburg Police Department and the Harrisonburg/Rockingham community.
Hudson came to the Harrisonburg Police Department as an ADI certified facility dog in May of 2024. Hudson completed his training through Mutts with a Mission, a nonprofit organization that trains service and facility dogs for veterans and first responders. Hudson spends his days with handler, Detective Greg Miller, who investigates child sexual abuse and exploitation cases. Hudson works with HPD’s peer support team and Harrisonburg/Rockingham’s Multi-Disciplinary Team. He is trained to accompany crime victims to court, and provides support and comfort not only to victims, but also to officers and allied professionals. Hudson enjoys presenting at conferences, playing ball, and swimming! If you want to follow the best boy’s adventures, check out Hudson’s Instagram @hudson_and_his_human.
Greg Miller is a Detective with the Harrisonburg Police Department, where he began his law enforcement career in 1999. After serving as a patrol officer, bike patrol officer, and School Resource Officer for seven years, he developed a specialized focus on juvenile sex crimes and child exploitation. In 2008, Greg became affiliated with the Northern Virginia–Washington, D.C. Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Promoted to Criminal Investigations in 2010, Greg has investigated a wide range of cases, including fraud, robbery, sexual assault, and homicide, while maintaining a primary focus on ICAC and child exploitation investigations. He has been a member of the department’s Crisis Negotiation Team since 2003 and currently serves as the team leader. In 2018, he helped establish the Harrisonburg Police Department’s Peer Support Team and continues to serve as its team leader. Greg has presented at multiple conferences across the United States, sharing his experience and expertise in investigations and officer support. In May 2024, the Harrisonburg Police Department and Greg were fortunate to welcome Hudson, a Facility Dog, through Mutts with a Mission (Virginia Beach, VA).
Mutts With A Mission is an Assistance Dogs International (ADI) accredited 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that trains and places highly skilled Service and Facility Dogs to serve those who keep us free. While our Service Dogs are trained to assist individuals with disabilities, our Facility Dogs are trained to serve entire departments.
What is a Facility Dog?
A Facility Dog is a specially trained working dog that operates alongside a qualified professional in a professional setting. Unlike a pet or a comfort animal, a Facility Dog is trained to perform specific, skilled tasks. These dogs are an active part of the facility environment and the community they serve, not just a presence.
At Mutts With A Mission, Facility Dogs undergo the same rigorous two-year training program as our Service Dogs. They are then placed with sworn officers in an agency’s peer support program to assist with resilience and coping in high-stress environments.
Virginia Code § 18.2-67.9:1
Mutts With A Mission Facility Dogs adhere to Virginia State Law, which requires Facility Dogs to be trained through an Assistance Dogs International (ADI) accredited program. This ensures that every Facility Dog meets the highest standards of training, professionalism, and effectiveness.
What do Facility Dogs do?
- Provide deep pressure therapy to help regulate stress and anxiety.
- Perform anxiety alerts to interrupt rising distress before it escalates.
- Interrupt detrimental behaviors such as pacing, restlessness, or emotional shutdown.
- Break down barriers that prevent First Responders from seeking help and guidance in their mental and spiritual well-being.
- By doing this, Facility Dogs help officers and communities cope with trauma and stress in healthy, proactive ways.
Why are Facility Dogs Important?
- Offer a trusted presence that encourages openness during peer support interactions.
- Help foster resilience within agencies.
- Positively impact not just officers, but also the communities they serve.
- Provide thousands of First Responders with a reliable, professionally trained canine partner.
All Facility Dogs, their team’s initial two-week training, and ongoing recertifications are provided at no cost to the receiving agency or organization except for transportation and meals during training.
More information available at:
https://www.muttswithamission.org/
Photo Gallery
A few snapshots of Hudson at work and at play.
Follow Hudson Adventure on his Instagram Page:
Follow Hudson’s journey and see more of his work and adventures on Instagram:
