- December 5, 2025
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has added a therapy dog for the agency’s Court and Detention Services Division.
Therapy K-9 Lucy will assist detention deputies in the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, according to a press release. She is a toy Australian Shepherd, born on July 6, 2017.
Her handler is Cathleen Relyea, who supervises offender programs and services at the inmate facility, and the two have been a certified therapy dog team for two years. They have participated in various community events, including FCSO’s Shop with a Cop and Joy Beyond Walls events in December 2024.
Now, Lucy will provide comfort and support to FCSO’s detention deputies.
“The job that our detention deputies do is certainly not an easy one, and there are many unique stressors they face that come from working in a jail," Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said in the press release. "That’s why it is important to me that we provide emotional support in whatever way we can so that they can do their jobs to the best of their ability. I’m very excited that Therapy K-9 Lucy is a part of our detention team and will bring many smiles to our jail staff.”
