In December, Governor Kay Ivey (R) made Millie the Work Zone Safety Dog an honorary Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) trooper in recognition of the Labrador retriever’s tireless work over the last four years to educate communities statewide about the importance of work zone safety and the dangers of distracted driving.
[Above photo via the Alabama Governor’s Office]
Millie is also a certified therapy dog and the official safety dog of the Alabama Associated General Contractors. She and her handler Morris King engage in a variety of programs and public appearances, such as “Lessons with Millie” and “No Phones in the Cone Zone,” to deliver vital messages regarding highway work zone safety.
“Millie’s commitment to promoting work zone safety is truly commendable [and] we honor her dedication to both safety and education by officially making her an honorary ALEA trooper,” the governor noted in a statement. “May Millie continue to inspire us all to prioritize safety on our roads and highways.”
[Editor’s note: Millie and all her adventures can be viewed and followed on Instagram: @Millie_USA_Therapy_Dog]
ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor noted that on multiple occasions, the agency’s troopers have joined Millie and King to help spread safety messages at schools and during public events tied to National Safety Zone Awareness Week, held annually every April.
“This honorary swearing-in ceremony is not just a recognition of Millie’s efforts but also a reminder of the importance of work zone safety,” he said. “Millie will continue to play a vital role in educating and raising awareness.
Canines play a popular role in helping convey a variety of safety messages within the transportation industry.
For example, Andy the Australian Shepherd is the four-legged star of the latest Montana Department of Transportation safety campaign; joining an NFL lineman as part of the agency’s “Engage Montana” initiative to encourage motorists statewide to adopt safer driving habits.
The Montana DOT said in a 2023 edition of its newsletter that Andy will help keep roads safer by using his “loveable and loyal personality” to convey important reminders about seat belt use, only driving sober, putting aside distractions, and not speeding.
“I’m a working dog from a ranch out east, but I have friends and relatives all over Montana,” Andy noted in an “interview” as part of the agency’s latest motor vehicle safety push.
“You’ll find me herding people who have been drinking away from their cars and reminding teens life isn’t a race and their neighborhood isn’t a racetrack,” the lovable pup noted. “I remind my humans to buckle up every trip, and to slow the roll and stay cool behind the wheel.”
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