Martin County Fire Rescue gets therapy dog to help with stress
By Angela Rozier
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MARTIN COUNTY, Florida (WPBF) — The Martin County Fire Rescue is welcoming a new four-legged member to the team as part of an effort to support firefighters’ mental health during Mental Health Awareness Month.
Mango, a Dalmatian and the department’s first therapy dog, is now making the rounds at fire stations to meet crews.
Firefighting is widely known as one of the most stressful professions, and department leaders said Mango’s role is meant to help firefighters process difficult experiences after traumatic calls. “Firefighters are trained to be strong for others, but that doesn’t mean we don’t struggle ourselves,” Chief Chris Kammel said in a statement. “Mango is here to remind our crews that it’s okay to take a moment to breathe and heal.”
Kammel, Mango’s handler, said the dog does more than bring smiles to the station.
“Just being in a room with a dog, your cortisol levels drop, your stress levels come down, and you just become a more open person,” Kammel said. “So, if we’re doing critical incident stress management after a really bad call, just having the dog in the room makes people more willing to open up and discuss things, which decreases stress and helps combat PTSD in the long term.”
According to the International Association for Fire Fighters, 22% of fire service members will meet the criteria for PTSD at some point in their careers, compared with 11% to 30% of military veterans and 6% of the general population. While Dalmatians have long been associated with firehouses, officials said Mango’s role goes far beyond tradition. The dog was gifted to Martin County Fire Rescue by Furry Friends in Jupiter and had been specially trained to provide comfort and emotional support.
Right now, Mango’s handler is bringing him to stations on a routine basis so crews can get to know him. Kammel said Mango will also respond after especially difficult calls, when firefighters may need extra support.
“But also respond if there is a situation in which we have a critical incident that we have to debrief on,” Kammel said. “When we do that, I’ll bring him to the station to have everybody pet the dog beforehand, before they start having conversations, just so they’re more willing to open up and feel more emotionally supported.”
Officials said Mango’s presence is designed to create a safe, calming environment where firefighters feel more comfortable talking about what they’ve been through.
And while Mango may already be winning over crews with his gentle personality, Kammel said he still has a few quirks.
“He does not like lizards. He hates lizards a lot. He loves to chase squirrels,” Kammel said. “Anything that moves, he wants to chase after it. But when it comes to interacting with people, he’s gentle and loving.”
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