PSFD welcomes its first peer support dog to help first responders manage mental health
The Palm Springs Fire Department welcomed their newest member who happens to have four legs.
Ranger is a fully trained peer support/facility dog who will provide comfort to first responders dealing with extreme levels of stress. He is the first dog in a new Peer Support/Facility K9 Program in the PSFD.
"This job is very taxing, not just physically but emotionally as well," said deputy fire chief Jason Loya. "If we don't take care of ourselves, we are not going to be in a position to take care of anybody else."
That's why Ranger was specially selected. He completed hundreds of hours of intense specialized training to support firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics with post-traumatic stress or high levels of stress in a variety of situations and settings.
The addition of a peer support dog will help first responders manage stress, whether related to large-scale incidents, extended deployments, or day-to-day issues.
"The more we stay healthy, the better we are able to provide services and help others in need," said Loya. "What we're seeing in the public safety arena right now is a high suicide rate."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said first responders are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty.
The mental health of first responders is critical especially with an extreme wildfire season and increasing call loads with the ongoing pandemic.
"[Ranger] comes into play because you get to take a pause. You get to spend time with Ranger. You get a moment to be present," said Loya.
Ranger was donated from the service dog non-profit Thor's Hope Foundation, in partnership with Performance K9 Training, Inc.
"He's got hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of hours of training," said the CEO of Performance K9 Training and vice president of Thor's Hope Foundation Christina Macone-Greene. "He's picked for temperament, which means he's got a beautiful sound temperament, impeccable training skills. I mean, great off-leash obedience, as well. And he's great in all situations."
Ranger will be living with the deputy fire chief who will take him on station visits and any critical incidents. The department looks forward to expanding the program and obtaining more trained dogs.
"It's just a beautiful moment when I watch the fellow firefighters have their time with [Ranger] and just they get a smile on their face and just a break from the day-to-day life," said Loya.
To follow Ranger's journey, you can follow him on his Instagram page @PawsWithRanger.
