Firefighter Therapy Dog
September 14, 2020
First responders and staff are having their coffee with Donuts for a few days, but Donuts is a golden retriever to bring them some love.
“Her purpose is strictly for the firefighters and the staff. It’s to bring a little bit of home here,” said Tony Pighetti, who’s the Santa Barbara County Regional Support Team Coordinator.
Donuts is a two and a half-year-old therapy dog. She’s trained specifically for veterans and first responders with PTSD or high levels of anxiety. As the Creek fire blazes on, her handler, Tony Pighetti, and the sweet pup hope to provide some relief.
“Trying to make sure that firefighters are strong and healthy, mentally as well as physically and so the dog is one component of that.”
Donuts is part of Employee Support Services–a peer support program available to Cal Fire.
“You put a dog in between you and all of a sudden it’s like oh, you have a dog, I can tell you anything you want to know.”
Pighetti, now retired, gave 30 years of fire service and is honored to give back. He shares why he continues to serve in a different capacity.
“To see the suicide death higher than the traumatic line of duty death–that’s just not acceptable and so that’s what we’re trying to do is to reach people before they get to that point,” Pighetti said.
The two have been together since June, working hard on keeping first responders strong, but it’s not all work with no play.
“When I take the vest off, she is a two and a half-year-old maniac, just like any other dog. She runs around, she does these zoomies, she’s tearing up the garden, I mean she’s a true puppy.”
It’s unknown how long Donuts will be at this location, but so far it’s been a “pawsitive” visit.
Most Recent News
Former Victoria man’s diabetic alert dog helps him get back to life
When Luke Hengen’s diabetes worsened in his early twenties, it stripped him of the outdoor activities where the country kid felt at home. Countless wilderness adventures and years of hard-fought football games took a toll on his body, to the point where he could no longer sense when his blood sugar was too high or […]
Students Get Therapy Dog
When middle school students return to class on Jan. 11, they’ll find a new face at the door: Daisy. Daisy is a therapy dog and the personal pet of Rob Kreger, principal of the Rock L. Butler Middle School. The five-year-old golden retriever is not a school pet or mascot, but rather a working dog […]
Therapy Dogtor
Last March, Caroline Benzel, a third-year medical student, began to notice the stress and discomfort her nurse friends were feeling from the pressures of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. “[Personal protective equipment] can be really rough on the skin,” Benzel, 31, tells PEOPLE. Benzel and her 3-year-old Rottweiler, Loki (who’s also a therapy dog) hatched a […]
Therapy Dog Pups
When Stanley the miniature fox terrier’s owner passed away, the little dog started a ‘paw-some’ new role – bringing puppy love to some of the Gold Coast’s oldest residents. After Carinity Cedarbrook Diversional Therapist Julianne Staff adopted Stanley, he began visiting the aged care community at Mudgeeraba as a therapy dog. Therapy dogs help to […]
Puppy Cams
A nonprofit is providing an unusual form of therapy for those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic – puppy cams! “You spend five minutes with a puppy and try not to smile,” said registered nurse Robin Lingg Lagrone. Lingg Lagrone says watching little furballs wag their tails and prance on their paws helps […]
Pet Committee
When Moore County’s school doors were abruptly closed earlier in 2020, two- and four-legged volunteers from the Moore County Citizens’ Pet Responsibility Committee (PRC) were in their 12th year of presenting a six-session Pet Responsibility Education Program for fourth-graders. The PRC quickly shifted gears and placed its program materials online as part of a home […]