OCEANSIDE, California — Canine Companions Facility Dog Yosa gained celebrity status in her community through her work with the Seal Beach (Calif.) Police Department. As the subject of an edition of “Tony in Your Town” on ABC7 Los Angeles, Yosa’s impact has been shared throughout Southern California.
ABC7 reporter Tony Cabrera joined Yosa and her handler, Seal Beach Police Captain Nick Nicholas, as the team ventured around the coastal Orange County city. Yosa is a goodwill ambassador for the department, providing introductions for the Seal Beach PD and residents while out and about.
Her gentle disposition welcomes conversations, and the trading cards Capt. Nicholas shares with local children have made Yosa a recognizable face in town. But her work goes beyond forming bonds with the public.
Yosa offers a calming presence to victims and witnesses in traumatic situations, an invaluable job that has contributed to growing numbers of Canine Companions-trained facility dogs in law enforcement around the country.
As of July 2025, there are 35 facility dogs working in law enforcement nationwide, almost half are within the Southern California area. In Los Angeles and its surrounding communities, other facility dogs paired with police departments include Cadbury with the Redondo Beach PD, and Brisket with the Glendale PD.
Brisket transitioned to working with the Glendale PD shortly after teaming with the National Football League’s Los Angeles Chargers as an official team pup. His duties now include visiting area schools alongside Glendale Police Services Officer Amy Tate.
Professionally trained facility dogs also work in healthcare, rehabilitation, criminal justice, education and other settings. Learn more at canine.org/facilitydogs.
