In Avon, Massachusetts, the community was all smiles thanks to Cruiser, the neighborhood’s beloved golden retriever and official community resource dog.
Cruiser earned his latest reward after helping locate a 78-year-old man with dementia who had gone missing. The clever pup tracked the man through the woods behind a local school, ensuring he was found safe.
“Cruiser can’t hide his smile today,” Police Chief Bill McGrath shared on Facebook. “Got to play my favorite game of finding the missing person. I won today when I located him. Don’t worry, Sgt. Morris made sure I got my hamburger reward!”
Since joining the Wrentham Police Department in 2020, Cruiser has become a social media star with 1,600 followers who keep up with his weekly adventures. He was bred by Golden Opportunities for Independence, an organization that trains golden retrievers for service and police work. From puppyhood, Cruiser learned skills such as retrieving dropped keys and phones, offering support to people with anxiety, and staying close to his handler during emergencies.
Founder Pauline Hoegler told WBZ TV, “You’d have no idea what this dog has done for our community, for our police department, for our officers.”
Cruiser’s talents extend beyond missing-person rescues—he’s also known for his love of hamburgers. In March, he enjoyed a well-earned burger after finding two runaway children in the woods.