ROCKLAND – “Officer Lucy” may have lost her baby fat. And she may not be as trained yet as one might expect, but the 5 and a half month old full blood Golden Retriever is easily living up to one of her job expectations.

She’s winning hearts wherever she goes. And all she has to do is be herself.

Since being adopted into the Knox County Sheriff’s Office roster in August at the tender age of 8 weeks, she’s had to start at the very bottom just like everyone else. But, she’s not concerned. In fact, she loves it.

“It used to literally just be sit, down, heal,” said her handler, Deputy Chris Taylor. “Those are really all she does for obedience. I reward her sometimes if she doesn’t jump, or something.”

With no depth perception, learning to track and conducting article searches by following human scent will come eventually, through whatever alternative way she decides will lead to her success.

Narcotics identification might follow, as soon as Lucy loses interest in sniffing out the goose poop, scents of other dogs, and abandoned floor crumbs.

Lucy likes to work, and she trains at least an hour a day, making connections between the tasks set before her and the reward that follows.

“It is fun to watch her as she’s progressed. Finally seeing her taking a lot of this initial training and starting to apply it is where it’s getting a lot more fun,” said Taylor.

If Lucy doesn’t follow the route of tracking dog, Taylor has offered to bring Lucy into the District Attorney’s Office if a child needs to be interviewed.

“She’s not necessarily trained for it, but given her calm demeanor and everything, we still think that she would be an added benefit,” said Taylor.

Taylor is also involved with Critical Incident and Stress Management and has offered to bring Lucy into that realm as well.

But, where K9 training is coming slowly, bit by bit, public relations has come naturally. Young-girl spunk, soft golden fur, a growing curiosity, and yes, those puppy dog eyes are bonuses for a dog that instantly likes everyone she sees.

Her “Officer Lucy” moniker comes from the children of a courthouse worker, yet, regardless of whether she’s Officer Lucy, K9 Lucy, or just Lucy, she’s developed a fan club. Children in Knox County ask after her. An elementary school in Dexter sent her drawings and thank-you and good luck letters after seeing a segment about her on WABI TV. Landen, a non-verbal 18 year-old Waldoboro resident with Autism, treated Lucy to some homemade dog cookies (find more about Landen at his business Facebook page K9 Kookies). And, just prior to this interview, Lucy made a cameo appearance, without kids present, at a Town Office after an employee asked for a meet and greet.

Lucy’s gift is that she’s calm around people and great with kids. Although Taylor lets her stay in her K9 cruiser den during most law enforcement calls, he has deliberately taken her to a couple of calls involving children as a way to ease tensions, and to give the kids an opportunity to see a puppy.

“Yeah, she’s not a puppy puppy anymore,” said Taylor. “She’s getting a little bit bigger, but she still has that way about her.”

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com