When 3-year-old pit bull mix Bolo walked into the Hopkinsville Police Department, he was only supposed to be there for the day. But within hours, the shelter pup had won so many hearts that everyone agreed — he was never going back.
Bolo had been waiting for adoption at the local shelter for two months before becoming the very first dog to join “Paw-Trol Wednesdays,” a new program designed to spotlight adoptable dogs and help them find homes.
The plan was simple: spend a day at the police station, charm a few people, and then head back to the shelter. But Bolo had bigger plans.
“As soon as he got comfortable and started playing with everyone, people kept asking, ‘Can we keep him?’” recalled public information officer Royale Marfil, who started the program.
By midday, Bolo had worked the room — meeting officers, getting cuddles, and even dozing off in Marfil’s office.
“He just plopped down and started snoring so loudly,” Marfil said with a laugh. “That was my favorite part — watching him feel so safe he could fall into a deep sleep.”
When it was time to leave, Bolo’s head dropped and soft whimpers filled the office. The officers felt the same way. No one wanted him to go.
So Marfil brought the idea to Chief Newby. His response?
“Yeah, why not? Let’s keep him.”
From that moment on, Bolo had a new life. He now spends his days as part of the Hopkinsville Police Department and goes home with Marfil at night.
Marfil says Bolo knew he was going to be adopted when she drove him to PetSmart to buy a collar and toys.
“That’s when he got really happy,” she said. “He knew.”
His adoption became official in early November with a special ceremony where he received his new title: the department’s very first “Paw-trol Officer.”
Since then, Bolo has become the department’s unofficial mascot — and the main attraction in Marfil’s office.
“People stop by just to see him,” Marfil joked. “Sometimes I think they forget it’s my office too.”
He’s also perfected the art of begging. “If he hears any wrapper crinkle — doesn’t matter what it is — he’s right at your feet,” Marfil said.
Unlike the K9 officers trained for serious police work, Bolo’s only assignment is to spread joy — and it’s a job he takes seriously.
“He has the biggest smile every single day,” Marfil said. “If you pet him, he’ll smile. If you’re having a bad day, he’s got a smile waiting for you.”
Bolo may have started as a shelter dog looking for a family, but now he’s more than that: a teammate, a mascot, and a source of happiness for everyone who meets him.
