Nationwide Dog Contest Highlights Role of Therapy Dogs in Emergency Response By Writer and Contributor Emily McGinn
In recent years, some first responders have begun to add some new furry faces to their teams. Therapy dogs have become a growing part of emergency response, providing emotional support to first responders and assisting their communities.
As a result, Florida-based healthcare institution FHE Health held its Third Annual First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award competition this month, which honors a selection of dogs across the nation who are actively serving their communities. The contest highlights the stories of therapy dogs across the nation who are all making a difference as they assist first responders in their roles.
“America’s first responders are on the frontlines of danger every day, saving lives and keeping our communities and nation safe. That can take a toll on their mental health,” FHE Health states. “Therapy dogs help these heroic men and women rebound from emergencies and reset between calls. The calming, healing presence of these dogs enables first responders to process the on-the-job traumas they’ve experienced and cope better with stress, grief and anxiety.”
Dogs are well-known to reduce stress and assist in coping with anxiety disorders and fallout from traumatic incidents. Petting a dog can lower cortisol — a stress hormone — and increase levels of oxytocin, a stress-regulating and social bonding hormone. As a result, one survey showed that 84% of patients with PTSD who are paired with a dog report a reduction in symptoms, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
However, therapy dogs and their training can be expensive. FHE Health states that they hope to draw attention to the importance of supporting this cause through the annual nationwide contest.
“By recognizing one therapy dog for its excellence in service and by sharing their story with a national audience, we hope to advocate for more such therapy dogs in more communities across America,” FHE Health states.
This year’s 10 finalists include a couple of local dogs who are working across Southern California. Saffron, who works with the Orange County Sheriff’s office, responds to calls, comforts trauma-impacted people and victims during interviews and provides support to agency members after difficult calls. Willowbrook, who has become the smallest therapy dog in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department after being rescued as a one-pound puppy in 2022, has responded to major incidents such as the devastating wildfires that blazed through Los Angeles earlier this year and has made nearly 20,000 first responder visits across the department to provide support to department members.
Other finalists are based in states like North Carolina, Pennsylvania, West Virgina, Oregon and Idaho.
The winner will receive a $4,000 check to support their work, as well as a Chewy gift basket, a “Top Paws Therapy Dog Award” badge and a $2,500 donation made in their honor from FHE Health to First Responders Pack Foundation, which trains and connects therapy dogs with first responders.
Check out all of the dogs and their stories on the FHE Health website and stay tuned for the announcement of the winner.
Bio:
Emily McGinn is a journalist based in the Los Angeles area. She enjoys reporting on and writing about a variety of topics from lifestyle to news, especially in her areas of specialty, environmental science and political science