Woof Watch
A German shepherd wears a Woof Watch bandanna and rests after a neighborhood walk.
Woof Watch is a community resource program offered through the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) that trains citizens and their dogs for crime prevention. Woof Watch is an extension of the Neighborhood Watch (NHW) program that empowers dog walkers, or anyone out and about in the community, to keep an eye out for suspicious activity, and teaches them what to do if they see anything.
Always looking for ways to revitalize NHW programs, DCSO Deputy Kathryn Nicola created Woof Watch in 2025 and continues to run it. She stated that people who regularly walk or exercise around their neighborhoods likely know the neighborhood better than most, so it is a good fit to train this already existing “patrol.”
DCSO Woof Watch classes, offered upon request through NHW programs, focus on safety while walking the neighborhood, relevant laws and ordinances and how to recognize and report suspicious activity. Deputy Nicola meets with current NHW programs throughout the year to decide the areas of concern and topics of education for Woof Watch classes, which are one-to-two hours long depending on discussions. If citizens or a neighborhood are interested in starting a NHW or Woof Watch, contacting Deputy Nicola is the first step. She will discuss what programs can look like in individual communities and how to get started.
Though branded for dog walkers, the program is for anyone who is out and about in their neighborhood—runners, family walkers, bike riders—all are welcome to participate. Participants are offered bracelets and dog bandannas with the Woof Watch logo and the DCSO phone number. The branding serves to create program awareness, both with residents and with potential criminals. As more people and pups participate, the more visible their presence and impact will be.
Woof Watch has quickly become a favorite community resource program. With several successful NHW programs already established in Castle Pines, Deputy Nicola is always looking to expand into more neighborhoods.
Woof Watch “helps keep the community safe one walk at a time by staying alert and observant because community safety is better when we all work together, whether with two legs or four,” concluded Deputy Nicola.
Contact Deputy Nicola for more information at knicola@dcsheriff.net.
Milo the sheepdog grins and sports the DCSO Woof Watch swag.
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
