Washoe County has partnered with Liberty Dogs, a Reno-based nonprofit, to create a new workplace policy that allows county employees to bring service dogs in training to work alongside them.
The policy, developed with input from Liberty Dogs and approved by the Washoe County Board of Commissioners, sets clear guidelines for participation, including behavioral standards, safety protocols, and departmental discretion.
Liberty Dogs pairs U.S. military veterans living with PTSD with trained service dogs, and reports 2 News Nevada that the new policy extends to all service dog organizations and therapy dog programs, not just Liberty Dogs.
Eligible employees can volunteer to help raise and socialize dogs in training while continuing their regular duties.
“This is a powerful example of how local government can lead with both compassion and practicality,” said retired Major Gen. Ondra L. Berry, CEO of Liberty Dogs.
“For organizations like ours, this policy enables employees to play a direct role in raising future service dogs for veterans, right alongside their daily work.”
The policy draws on research from the University of Arizona’s Human-Animal Bond Lab, which has found that interactions with working dogs are linked to reduced stress and improved wellbeing among employees.
Additional research on Animal Assisted Interventions found that dogs in workplace environments were associated with reduced burnout and better mental health outcomes.
Liberty Dogs is a national program headquartered in Reno and is scheduled to open its training facility in the summer of 2026.
The organization saves dogs from euthanasia by training them to become certified service animals for veterans.
Washoe County structured the policy to minimize workplace disruption and keep participation voluntary.
The policy is intentionally separate from Americans with Disabilities Act protections, meaning departments retain discretion over implementation.
Similar workplace policies allowing service dogs in training have already been adopted in Sierra County, California, and are being explored by additional public and private employers.
Washoe County is the first Nevada county to formalize such a policy.
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