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ST. GEORGE — First responders spend their careers on the forefront of innumerable emergencies or disasters to ensure the safety and well-being of the public, but their commitment exacts a price and often wreaks havoc on their mental health.
A recently launched program may offer some help — the furry four-legged kind of help.
While first responders are trained to handle a variety of emergency situations, the trauma they witness often can lead to a broad range of health and psychological conditions that can have a devastating impact on their mental health.
This is where "Tate," a 22-month-old Wheaton terrier, comes in. Tate has been certified as a therapy dog through First Responder Therapy Dogs, a nonprofit program launched three years ago in San Rafael, California. Since its inception, the program has become an industry leader that has expanded to include 106 teams in 23 states.
Read the full article at St. George News.
