A Therapy Dog Is Bringing Needed Comfort to New York City Firefighters
On September 8, firefighters gathered outside a New York City firehouse for a solemn reason: the funeral of a colleague. The crew had just lost one of their own, and emotions were understandably high. That same day, two Golden Retrievers, Ellie and Emma, arrived for a scheduled visit. As trained therapy dogs, they greeted the crew and helped create a moment of calm that the firefighters hadn’t known they needed.
Dogs Provide Support in Moments of Grief
Ellie and Emma’s visit aligned with one of the hardest days a firehouse can face. Firefighters were still processing the loss, and the dogs provided immediate comfort simply by being present. They posed for photos with the truck and provided some relief to the men who were otherwise consumed with grief.
Online comments about the visit reflected just how meaningful it was, with one person saying the dogs were “needed that day.” At the end of the day, that sense of timing isn’t unusual because therapy dogs are trained to respond to emotional cues. They recognize sadness and stress and make an attempt to relax the person.
Firefighters Face Daily Stress
The visit highlighted a truth already known inside fire departments: repeated exposure to trauma leaves a lasting mark. Firefighters face calls nearly every day that demand immediate decisions under intense conditions. Some of those calls resemble their personal lives—children the same age as their own or patients with familiar details.
In the West Metro Fire Protection District in Colorado, responders handle almost 40,000 calls a year, averaging one every 13 minutes. Those experiences compound into chronic stress. To address that, West Metro launched a certified therapy dog program. Dogs like Remmey, an Irish Setter, and Captain, a Goldendoodle, became integrated into daily life at the stations.
Their handlers, firefighters themselves, noticed how the support of a patient animal helped crews decompress after challenging shifts. The canines in the unit aren’t viewed as distractions, and their consistent availability creates a small but important buffer against the constant weight of the job.
Therapy Dogs Leave a Lasting Impression on Crews
What most people don’t realize is that firefighters remember the dogs long after a visit ends. For example, in California, Kerith, a Golden Retriever, regularly walks through wildfire base camps. Crews working long hours in dangerous conditions often recall her as the one bright spot in a grueling deployment.
Meanwhile, Pierce, a mini Goldendoodle in Washington, joined responders during the Gray Fire, quietly moving among them at the command post. Similarly, Sparkie, a Labradoodle in Massachusetts, visits stations with his paramedic handler and is credited with easing depression and anxiety.
These instances show the broader impact of therapy dogs beyond single visits. They don’t replace professional counseling, but they help first responders acknowledge and process feelings that otherwise remain hidden.