Mental Health Awareness Month: Therapy Dogs Support First Responders

May was Mental Health Awareness month, and we are proud of our sponsored therapy dog Mayzie and her mom Adrienne, and the tireless work they do to help change the conversation around mental health, especially for first responders. Did you know that more than 80% of first responders experience traumatic events on the job? Because they face challenging and dangerous situations, first responders are at a high risk of developing PTSD as a work-related injury or condition. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), roughly 1 in 3 first responders develop PTSD. In comparison, the incidence of PTSD in the general population is 1 in 5 people.

Trained therapy dogs like Mayzie offer a simple yet powerful way to support the mental health of first responders. By providing compassionate, stigma-free emotional care directly to law enforcement officers, emergency medical service members, and fire service members (along with their support teams), these dedicated dogs serve as a steady source of comfort. The non-profit organization First Responder Therapy Dogs is dedicated to improving the mental well-being of first responders by deploying trained therapy dog teams to provide on-site emotional support. In 2024 alone, their teams supported more than 66,000 first responders.

Supporting first responders’ mental health means recognizing challenges like PTSD and burnout, sharing helpful resources, and pushing for better support policies. You can help too by donating, volunteering, or simply thanking them for all they do. Read on to find out how Mayzie supported first responders in May.

A Therapy Dog Visit to USFS Wildland Firefighters 

Mayzie and her mom Adrienne went to visit one of the local United States Forest Service fire crews in El Dorado County. The firefighters in Grizzly Flat provide mutual aid to the town of Grizzly Flat, along with covering approximately 50,000 acres of the southwestern portion of the Eldorado National Forest.

Sadly, the team lost their station in the 2021 Caldor Fire. Mayzie has seen these crews at different local events and up at the 2024 Park Fire base camp in Red Bluff, California. They're always excited to see her and I think they're her biggest fans. Mayzie can sense their stress, and she is always eager to see them and give them her very best comfort. 

Wildland Firefighters are gone for weeks to months at a time from home, often traveling to different states on "strike teams." They work in extremely hazardous conditions and often for over 16 hours at a time. They can be gone for 14 days at a time, for what many call a "roll." They have to stay physically fit and be ready to hike many miles into remote locations to fight fires with their tools and supplies in heavy packs. They are exposed to smoke, heat, hazard trees, bears, snakes, wasps, and poison oak, all while working hard to cut fire lines to help with containment lines.

So, the next time you see a light green engine or crew buggy driving down the road, make sure you wave and thank them for their hard work!

Canine Support for Officers at Police Week and Peace Officers’ Memorial Day

Police Week, observed May 11–17, is dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of America’s law enforcement community. In 2024, Mayzie and her mom Adrienne visited the California Peace Officers' Memorial to offer comfort to those in attendance. Although they couldn't make it this year due to Adrienne’s work schedule, they were still on call locally, ready to lend a comforting paw to their nearby law enforcement agencies.

National Peace Officers Memorial Day, held on May 15 as part of Police Week, pays tribute to officers who have died or been injured in the line of duty—a tradition officially established by President Kennedy in 1962. This year, Mayzie and Adrienne marked the occasion by visiting the Placerville Police Department to show their appreciation and support.

Mayzie Supports Tahoe First Responders

Mayzie’s summer started with a trip to South Lake Tahoe in June, where she joined local first responders for National PTSD Awareness Month. She and Adrienne attended the “We Are in This Together” conference, hosted by South Lake Tahoe Fire and Rescue as a fundraiser for the Chip Terry Fund for First Responders. The event focused on supporting the mental health of those on the front lines, and it was an honor for Mayzie to be there offering comfort to attendees. As Jillian Gard of the South Lake Tahoe Police Department put it, “She was the best part of the night.”

One of the highlights of the day was hearing from guest speaker Michael Sugrue, a retired Walnut Creek police officer and passionate advocate for first responder mental health. His mission—to raise awareness, provide education, and promote training around Post Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) and suicide prevention—left a lasting impression. Adrienne, already a fan after reading his book Relentless Courage, found his story even more powerful when shared in person.

From Service to Self-Care: Mayzie helps support the Tahoe community

In mid-June, Mayzie and her mom Adrienne returned to South Lake Tahoe to support the community after a tragic accident claimed the life of a young girl. They visited many of the first responders involved, as well as those who knew the girl and her family—including her peers, teachers, and local Girl Scouts—offering comfort through Mayzie’s calm presence and steady love. Stops included the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, CalTahoe EMS, and Lake Valley Fire District. As Leona Allen of the U.S. Forest Service shared, “Thank you to Mayzie ... for sharing so much needed love to our community right now. And for offering support in the future. She’s a welcome addition to Tahoe Families.”

They also visited Fallen Leaf Fire Department, a small rural department that serves a seasonal community of 1,000 residents and tourists on the West shore of Fallen Leaf Lake. They are often called out on strike teams in the summer to help with large wildfires in California and Nevada, leaving the remaining crews behind to work overtime cover in their absence. 

After a busy spring supporting first responders, Mayzie is now enjoying a well-deserved summer break. Between calls for comfort, she’s been recharging with peaceful camping adventures—because even therapy dogs need time in nature to soothe their souls. Thank you, Mayzie, for all that you do. ❤️