From the Orange County Probation.

Santa Ana, Calif. – June 18, 2026 –  The Orange County Probation Department (OC Probation) is proud to announce the launch of its Critical Incident & Trauma Response Support K9 Program, WAGS (Wellness, Assistance, Growth, and Support).  

This program is designed to provide trauma informed support to staff, youth, victims, and community members during critical incidents and other challenging situations. 

The Department’s inaugural WAGS Teams include Support K9s Lizzie, Charlie Brown, and Sunny, each specially trained to recognize signs of stress and provide comfort, engagement, and emotional support. 

• Lizzie, a standard poodle, is paired with Primary Handler Mona Negron and Secondary Handler David Alonso
• Charlie Brown, a chocolate lab, is paired with Handler David Martinez
• Sunny, a yellow lab, is paired with Handler Raul Castro

The WAGS Teams do not perform enforcement, detection, search, or investigative functions. Instead, they serve as a support resource that may be utilized during critical incidents, victim-centered interactions, youth engagement activities, staff wellness responses, court support, and approved community outreach events.

The program is administered through the Department’s Victim Services and Community Engagement Office and works collaboratively with Peer Support and other Department programs to provide trauma-informed support and engagement opportunities. Funding for the program was provided through a U.S. Department of Justice Assistance Grant (JAG), which supported canine acquisition, specialized training, equipment, and program implementation. The WAGS Program reflects OC Probation’s commitment to wellness, resilience, victim services, community engagement, and evidence-based practices.

“Our employees regularly work with individuals experiencing trauma, crisis, and loss. The WAGS Program provides another way for us to support our staff, youth, victims, and community members when they need it most,” said Chief Probation Officer Daniel Hernandez.

The Department is also pleased to announce that Division Director Connie Schonert and Deputy Probation Officer Mayra Lopez have been selected as future Support K9 Handlers. Two additional Support K9s (Ripley and Bodie) are expected to join the program expanding our supportive services throughout Orange County. 

The Orange County Probation Department conducts regular operations to safeguard neighborhoods, reduce crime, and promote rehabilitation. Through these efforts, the department balances accountability with transformation. Officers hold probationers accountable for their actions, while also working to connect them with the resources they need to rebuild their lives.  

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As a public safety agency, the Orange County Probation Department serves the community using effective, research supported rehabilitation practices and collaborative partnerships to successfully resocialize justice involved individuals. The Probation Department is proud to serve the Orange County community. It is dedicated to continuous improvement, searching out and applying “effective and research supported practices” to assist justice involved youth, their families, and adults to successfully navigate and successfully complete probation. Further, the Probation Department assists the criminal court system through investigations, probation reports and community supervision of thousands of adult and juvenile clients on court-ordered probation or in diversion programs. The Department operates the Orange County Juvenile Hall, and two camps for youth. In addition, the Department operates a Youth Reporting Center serving all of Orange County.    

Read additional KTLA story here, NBCLA story here, and watch NBCLA video coverage here. 

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