SCARBOROUGH, Maine — It's not uncommon to see dogs at the beach. However, a few dogs at Scarborough Beach State Park are actually there for their day job.
Two Newfoundland dogs, Beacon and Buoy, have been manning the lifeguard post for a couple of years. Now, the team is adding a rookie to the lineup: Meet 11-week-old Bell.
The trio makes up some of the first lifeguards of their kind. A few years ago, Beacon became the first dog in the nation to serve as a lifeguard on a public beach.
"They're in the water just about every day. Whether it be an official rescue training or just swimming," lifeguard Will Porter said.
Bell is primarily focusing on basic training and getting comfortable in the water, Porter said.
"She already understands what they’re doing. She understands how to retrieve," Greg Wilfert, the park's manager, said. "She’ll learn from these guys all summer long."
Wilfert has been working at the beach since 1972. When the beach was experiencing a lifeguard shortage, he decided it was time for a fresh change.
"The dogs have become an integral part of our rescue procedure," he said.
He said the dogs have not made a save yet; however, the trio will be on duty for many summers to come.
If they are needed, the dogs would act as a second responder. A lifeguard would go into the ocean to save a victim, and a dog would go into the ocean with a second lifeguard. The dog would pull both lifeguards and victims ashore.