Capitol Police welcome emotional support dog to force

U.S. Capitol Police has added another member to its force in the form of an emotional support dog.

“We are thrilled to welcome the newest member of our Department,” the Capitol Police tweeted on Wednesday. Along with the announcement, the department shared three photos of the young dog.

“2-year-old Lila is our first full-time emotional support black lab,” it added.

We are thrilled to welcome the newest member of our Department!

2-year-old Lila is our first full-time emotional support black lab. Lila’s first day is on July 5. pic.twitter.com/e6eX6gH77u

— U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) June 9, 2021

Lila will begin working on July 5, Capitol Police said.

The emotional support dog received several messages of praise from Twitter users, many of whom congratulated her on the new role.

Lila joins the force several months after the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, which left about 140 police officers injured.

Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick died Jan. 7 from natural causes after suffering two strokes, and two other officers, one from the Capitol Police and another from the D.C. police, died by suicide days later.