Detroit officer protects dogs when off-duty

Officer Lori Briggs, Dog Aide fix fence, free chained dog

DETROIT – Lori Briggs has been a Detroit police officer for 20 years. On her days off she is out on the streets of the city making a big difference for stray and abandoned animals.

"I'm back down here on my off days. It's just my passion," Briggs said.

In Detroit, Briggs is usually in uniform on a crime scene as an officer in the forensics unit, but when she's not working, she's in a t-shirt and shorts, getting her hands dirty in the city to protect animals.

"I feel sorry for them. They are helpless. They need our help. They need us to feed them. They need us to get them their shots," Briggs said.

On this Labor Day weekend, she and a group of animals lovers from Dog Aide are fixing a fence at a home on the city's west side where two pit-bulls have to be chained up because of the broken fence.

"We have no experience building a fence. This is going to be very piecemeal and very experimental," said Jen Clarkson, president of Dog Aide.

"We are just trying to make a little bit better life for them, make them happier," said Briggs.

Briggs noticed the dogs were chained up while on patrol a few weeks ago and asked the family if she could help.

"I'm glad they are doing this so they can run around and be loose, feel free. They feel like they are caged up," said the dog's owner Keith Wills.

Over the last couple of years Briggs has helped nearly 500 stray dogs in Detroit find homes and spent thousands of dollars of her own money in the process.

"We could always use dog house donations, dog food donations and I am looking to purchase a trap which is another $600, which I don't have in my pocket," said Briggs.

The off-duty officer uses her own money to do rescues. She needs all the help that she can get.

If you would like to help contact Dog Aid via email at Dogaidecap@gmail.com