Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps' first official mascot. Lt. Cmdr. Abigail, a trained facility dog who will provide therapeutic care to patients and officers. Lt. Cmdr. Abigail, a Labrador Retriever, was named after former First Lady Abigail Adams, and she will serve as a living symbol of the USPHS Commissioned Corps' commitment to public health.
“The mascot is a very welcome resource for Public Health Service officers and the communities we serve. As we continue to see an increase in mental health struggles across the country, I hope Lt. Cmdr. Abigail will serve as a beacon of positivity as she performs her duties,” U.S. Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine said.
According to a press release issued on July 21, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services introduced Lt. Cmdr. Abigail, a trained facility dog who will offer therapeutic care to patients and Public Health Service officers, as the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service first official mascot. The former First Lady of the United States, Abigail Adams, who had a link to the service in the past, inspired the name Lt. Cmdr. Abigail. The US Marine Hospital Service was established on July 16, 1798, as a result of an Act passed by Congress and signed by President John Adams. This was done to prevent the spread of disease among sailors returning from foreign ports and marked the beginning of the Public Health Service's history.
During the COVID-19 epidemic, when Public Health Service personnel were dispatched to deal with the biggest public health crisis in modern memory, the idea for the service mascot first emerged. The mascot is meant to boost morale, foster camaraderie, and support public health messaging. The mascot is initially given an honorary rank in the USPHS Commissioned Corps that is equal to the primary handler's rank. There will be no salary or retirement benefits associated with this honorary position. Labrador Retriever Lt. Cmdr. Abigail is a Warrior Canine Connection dog who underwent specialized training to function as a facility dog. Lt. Cmdr. Abigail will stand in for the USPHS Commissioned Corps' dedication to the general populace and safeguarding the country's health.
A memorandum of agreement between the USPHS Commissioned Corps and the PHS Commissioned Officers Foundation makes the USPHS Commissioned Corps mascot program possible. The mascot will serve ceremonial functions and travel with our police as they defend the public's health. One of the eight uniformed services, the USPHS Commissioned Corps is the only one with the sole goal of defending the public health of the country. Officers of the Public Health Service work across the entire federal government to advance innovation science, offer vital healthcare services to underserved and vulnerable people, and respond to national or international catastrophes.
