COPS Monitoring, a leading professional alarm monitoring service provider, has welcomed its first K9 assistant to its workforce, Kovu, a 4-year-old German shepherd. 

Throughout history from ancient Rome to Europe and China, there has been evidence of canines aiding humans. However, service dogs were not legally recognized by the United States until the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990. Today, there are roughly a half a million service dogs in the United States alone.

While ADA Title I applies to private employers with 15 or more employees, state and local governments, employment agencies, and labor unions, not every work environment is safe or hospitable to a service animal.  

“I can’t tell you just how pleased I am that COPS Monitoring is the perfect atmosphere for employees and their service animals,” said COPS Founder and President Jim McMullen. "I’ll be honest, in our 45 years, it was only recently that we were approached with the idea of accommodating a K9 companion. There are talented people with service animals that may not know about us, and we are working to change that. We are fortunate that our monitoring centers are the perfect place for people with service animals who are inspired to help others through the work that we do.”

“It's surprisingly difficult finding companies that have the right atmosphere for service animals,” explained Rebekkah, Kovu’s companion. “Kovu and I feel so fortunate to find a place like COPS Monitoring. We both feel at home here and are proud to be productive members of the team.”

“When he’s working, he’s very vigilant and has his eye on me at all times,” shared Rebekkah. “When he’s off the clock, Kovu is a goofy, fun-loving boy who can usually be found at home playing with his tennis ball.  He also enjoys tagging along at the farm to help keep me in good company,” she concluded.

Though Kovu is considered a service animal, and not a pet, everyone at COPS loves having him around. Studies have also shown that the presence of dogs in the workplace can improve morale and lower stress levels which are both vital to concentrating on critical tasks and an overall healthy workplace environment.