FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — As communities continue to honor the lives lost on Sept. 11 and the first responders who answered the call, a group of therapy dogs in the Central Valley is offering comfort to those who need it most.
The Fresno First Responder Therapy Dog organization brings trained dogs to first responders and other workers facing high-stress, traumatic situations.
The visits are designed to provide a moment of relief through simple interaction like petting, hugging and spending time with the dogs.
The Fresno First Responder Therapy Dog organization brings trained dogs to first responders and other workers facing high-stress, traumatic situations (PHOTO COURTESY OF: NANCY GILMORE).
“We go into fire stations, we go into fire base camps, dispatch centers, ” Nancy Gilmore, a handler for First Responder Therapy Dogs, said.
The visits are designed to provide a moment of relief through simple interaction like petting, hugging and spending time with the dogs (PHOTO COURTESY OF: ELIZABETH TERRY).
Elizabeth Terry, also with the organization, said the dogs can make a difference during difficult shifts, including for hospital staff.
“Some of the nurses were having a hard day and just being able to hug the dog just makes a world of difference,” Terry said.
Two of the dogs highlighted through the group are Molly and Noodle.
Molly has been working as a therapy dog for a couple of years, while Noodle is new to the role, having received his vest last week.
Gilmore said the impact is often immediate when the dogs arrive.
“Immediately you see kind of this relief come over them because the stress level, I mean it’s a proven fact that the stress level goes down when you start petting a dog and they have such high stress environment in their jobs,” Gilmore said.
Studies show that interacting with animals has been shown to decrease levels of cortisol, which is a stress-related hormone (NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH).
With the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the group went to local events to connect with first responders and share information about its mission.
“We met a lot of first responders down there got the word out about first responder therapy dogs and yeah it was a wonderful experience,” Gilmore said.
Terry is Noodle’s handler and said he loves to cuddle.
“He is 80 pounds of I will crawl in your lap and just lick your face,” she said.
Terry is Noodle’s handler and said he loves to cuddle (PHOTO: PHOTOJOURNALIST CHASE GAUTHIER).
Gilmore is Molly’s handler and said Molly is eager to get to work.
“She absolutely loves her job now. She gets her vest on and she’s ready to roll,” Gilmore said.
Gilmore is Molly’s handler and said Molly is eager to get to work (PHOTO: PHOTOJOURNALIST CHASE GAUTHIER).
The organization’s visits are free.
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