Therapy Support Dogs Help Broward County First Responders, Community Heal

Broward County has introduced a unique program that enlists therapy dogs to help ease the emotional toll of traumatic incidents on both the community and first responders.

Providing Comfort Amidst Crisis

Known as the Broward First Responders Support Dogs, the program includes 15 specially trained dogs that respond to critical situations, providing much-needed emotional support to victims, survivors, and emergency workers alike. Officer Dana Doklean from the Hollywood Police Department explained the value of this initiative: “Before this, there was no way for therapy dogs within Broward to be contacted should the need arise, such as any type of critical incident at the police departments or fire stations.” Now, these therapy dogs are deployed to various high-stress scenes, offering support that extends beyond just comforting those directly impacted by disasters or tragedies.

Easing Trauma for the Community

The therapy dogs in Broward County are also actively involved in community outreach. They visit schools, help children with learning disabilities by participating in reading programs, and provide emotional comfort during hurricane relief efforts or in the aftermath of accidents. Firefighter Tim Abramczyk from the Florida Forest Service is one of the handlers involved. “I take her to school. We do reading programs and interact with kids with learning disabilities,” he said, highlighting the broader role of these support dogs.

One of the dogs, K-9 Mango, played a pivotal role following a tragic incident last year when a Broward Sheriff’s Office helicopter crashed in Pompano Beach, claiming the lives of a fire captain and a woman inside her home. “The impact that he had just on the family alone at the hospital, some of the firefighters, some of the employees and friends that knew [the victim]… was huge,” Officer Megan Santana of the Sunrise Police Department recounted, illustrating how these dogs provide emotional relief even in the gravest of circumstances.

Supporting the Mental Health of First Responders

A key focus of the program is to promote mental health awareness among first responders, who often experience long-term effects from repeated exposure to traumatic scenes. The dogs offer these emergency workers a momentary but crucial reprieve from the stress and emotional toll of their jobs. “A lot of times first responders do deal with PTSD on multiple levels,” explained Officer Doklean. “These dogs, when they come out, a lot of times it’s just that five-minute break… to pet the dog, to kind of calm themselves a little bit.” For many first responders, interacting with the therapy dogs offers a non-verbal form of stress relief. Santana shared, “Even if they’re not going to speak to us, they will kind of interact with the dog and… for a few seconds, it just takes away some of that anxiety, some of the emotion that they’re feeling.”

Fundraising for a Noble Cause

To support the ongoing training and provision of equipment for the therapy dogs, the Broward First Responders Support Dogs group is organizing a fundraising event. The event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Barkyard n’ Brews in Fort Lauderdale. The funds raised will ensure the continued success of this invaluable program, allowing these K-9s to keep offering emotional relief to those in need.