Hanford Fire Department will have some furry new recruits soon.
Puppies Helping Firefighters With Stress
May 27, 2020
The department is partnering with the California Service Dog Academy in Visalia to train two new puppies to help firefighters with stress.
Firefighters Connor Kurtz and Matt Martinez are heading the program and will be the two primary handlers for the puppies that are chosen for the department.
Kurtz said there are several services already available for firefighters coming back from particularly bad or difficult calls, like counselors, therapy sessions or talking to a chaplain, but he thought having a dog around would be a beneficial outlet as well.
He said being able to hang out with a dog can relieve stress and anxiety, as well as raise morale in the fire house.
“It seemed like kind of a natural extension to help out local first responders as well in the same exact way,” Rebecca Corso, head trainer at California Service Dog Academy, said.
The academy decided to donate two puppies to the department as a way to not only alleviate the mental stress of the firefighters, but also to bring joy to the community.
This will be the first of the academy’s programs aimed at first responders.
A litter of 10 golden retriever puppies explored HFD Fire Station 1 Tuesday morning and visited with some of the firefighters.
Corso said she wants the 8-week-old puppies to become acclimated to the sights and sounds of a fire station, so as part of their training the puppies listen to recorded sounds from the fire house every time they eat so it becomes a positive experience for them.
The department will know which two puppies it’ll be getting on Saturday and the puppies will be delivered a week after that.
For the next year or two, the academy will support HFD with all the training needs for Kurtz and Martinez on a regular basis. Martinez thanked the California Service Dog Academy for not only donating the dogs but for putting the time and effort into training them and working with the department.
Kurtz said he hopes other local agencies see what the department is doing and in turn start their own programs. Corso said the academy has already received interest in the program, which they hope to expand in the future.
Kurtz said he’s grateful for the opportunity and is excited to see the outcome of the program and how it helps the firefighters in the long run.
“There’s a lot of support behind it from the department and the community and we’re just looking forward to it,” he said.
Name suggestions for the puppies are being taken on the Hanford Fire Department Facebook page.
Check Out Our Store
Recent News
2025 Service & Support Dog Cards (Sneak Peak)
September 21, 2024
2025 Card Designs Have Arrived Early! ADA Members Take A Early look at our new designs. Click For More Info & Where To Purchase EarlyArtificial intelligence Service Dogs
August 13, 2024
Artificial intelligence (AI) can be used in service dogs in a variety of ways, including helping visually impaired people navigate, automating training center tasks, and monitoring a dog’s health: Navigation Researchers at the University of Glasgow and other partners have developed RoboGuide, an AI-powered robot dog that can help visually impaired people move independently and […]Dog killed, 1 injured in two bear attacks .
May 16, 2024
A man who went into the water on Long Island to rescue his service dog ended up needing to be rescued himself. It happened on Sunday night in Oyster Bay. The 34-year-old man was walking his dog when it entered the water to swim around 8:23 p.m. The dog suddenly began to struggle while swimming […]Walmart customer denied her access to service dog
March 10, 2024
Walmart customer with POTS says employees denied her access to service dog. customer can ruin everything. One Walmart shopper whose service dog alerted them to sit down on the ground due to a postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, which is a fainting disorder, says that not only did the store’s staff attempt to deny her access […]2024 Assistance Dog ID Cards Are Here!
January 2, 2024
Hello From Assistance Dogs Of America 2024 ID Cards Are Here! Wishing all of you a Happy New Year! ADARegistry.comCyber Monday Service Dog Kits
November 16, 2023
CYBER MONDAY SPECIAL! (While Supplies Last) Complete Kits Include The ID Card Created Upon Registration, ID Card Holder, QR Coded Patch, Choice Of Vest, Extra Patch Of Choice, Bandana, Retractable Leash With ADA Logo, Tag & Registration Letter. Also All Included Is The All New Metal QR Coded Registration Card That Links Direct To Your […]Airbnb Host Canceled Over Veteran’s Service Dog
September 28, 2023
While Boston couple Lauren Laliberte and Steve Bohn were busy preparing for their Cape Cod wedding, they were looking forward to celebrating alongside Bohn’s service dog — a yellow labrador named Orion. The plan was simple: They would make the trek from Boston to the Cape, and stay in an Airbnb the nights before and after […]Make A QR Code With Your Dogs Picture & Link To Your Registration
July 6, 2023
Make A QR Code That Links To Your Dogs Registration Click Here It’s easy Click or Scan The Code & Add Your Dogs Photo Then Add Your Dogs Registration Link. Click Or Scan The CodeOver 100 Instant ID Cards!
For Owners & Dogs
Smart Cards
Complete Kits
High Quality Bandanas 
High Visibility Vests
Custom Stainless Steel Tags
Instant Registration Letters
Instant Housing Certificates
Canadian Registration Letters
