GREENFIELD — Comfort dog Frank and his handler, Greenfield Police Officer Matthew Llewelyn, were recently recognized by Dakin Humane Society with the Distinguished Animal Award.

“It was a surprise,” said Llewelyn. “I didn’t even know we were nominated or anything like that, so when I got the email, it was great news to find out that he got recognized for something like this.”

Dakin Humane Society gives out its Humane Awards annually in recognition of individuals who make a positive difference in the lives of animals and people. The Humane Awards honor residents of the Pioneer Valley who share Dakin’s belief that the way we treat animals reflects the health of our community.

The Distinguished Animal Award was one of six awards presented by Dakin Humane Society earlier this month. Other recipients included Marina Bayeva of the nonprofit Help Animals Survive the War in Ukraine, the first grade students of Milton Bradley School in Springfield, West Springfield Animal Control Officer and Animal Health Inspector Jessecah Gower, longtime foster volunteer Jerry Marchand and VCA Animal Hospitals.

Frank, a chocolate lab whose sire, Hank, serves as a comfort dog for the Lunenburg Police Department, was donated to the Greenfield Police Department by Boonefield Labradors, Deputy Police Chief William Gordon said previously. Frank, often called “Frankie,” joined the department in November 2022 and uses the same K-9-fitted cruiser as the late Clarence. Once fully trained, Frankie and Llewelyn will primarily work with the department’s clinician to help defuse active behavioral health crises.

“It’s been going great,” Llewelyn said. “It’s fun to see him grow and learn, and I’m obviously learning … with him, so it’s cool to see him evolve.”

Llewelyn said Frankie still has a few classes left to do but has passed the Canine Good Citizen program. The next class will be to receive his therapy dog certification, at which point “we’ll pretty much be at the finish line.”

Since last November, Frankie and Llewelyn have attended funerals, participated in Coffee with a Cop and book readings at the Academy of Early Learning, and attended community events at Beacon Field and Schuetzen Verein in Gill. On Saturday, they plan to visit Valley Medical Group on Conway Street for the inaugural Health and Wellness Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“We’re literally all over the map,” Llewelyn said.

Frankie followed in the paw prints of Clarence, the Police Department’s longtime comfort dog who was euthanized last year after a period of declining health.

Gordon previously said Frankie was named in honor of Frank Roche, the department’s first assigned community policing officer, who worked with the Greenfield Police Department from 1976 to 1998. He was also a Marine veteran who died 24 years ago of a sudden illness thought to be due to his service in Vietnam.

To request a visit with Frankie, email Llewelyn at matthew.llewelyn@greenfield-ma.gov.

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.