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First Responder Therapy Dogs
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First Responder Therapy Dogs
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  • About Us
  • On Location
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  • Shout Outs
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Therapy DOgs on location

First Responder Therapy Dogs have been working in the field since 2020, calming first responders and putting smiles on thousands of faces. We currently have 101 certified therapy dog teams working in 23 states...and growing.

Therapy dogs Visit First Responders

Therapy dogs Visit First Responders

Therapy dogs Visit First Responders

Visits to fire stations, police departments, emergency rooms, and 911-call centers, dispatch centers are scheduled in advance. 


During the one to two-hour visits, therapy dog teams spend time with the personnel on shift bringing an instant uplift to the mood and energy in the room.

Mental Health Peer Support

Therapy dogs Visit First Responders

Therapy dogs Visit First Responders

 Following a challenging call, a defusing session typically occurs with the given first responder staff involved. A therapy dog joins to assist attendees in addressing their emotional responses to what they experienced during a high stress incident. 


The dogs handler also attends but does not participate in the session.


Wildland Fire BaseCamp Visits

Therapy dogs Visit First Responders

Wildland Fire BaseCamp Visits

Wildland Fire Basecamp visits are offered in Arizona, California, Colorado, and Oregon. These visits typically occur as the first responders are getting ready to go back on shift battling a fire. 

In California, First Responder Therapy Dogs coordinates directly with Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service to make scheduled visits to basecamps established for fighting wildland fires. These visits take place over several days as the team(s) visit different shifts of fire personnel.

consider a DOnation?

We appreciate any level of donation that works for you. Your donations will be used to provide specific programs and to support our mission and goals.   With your tax-deductible contribution, we will continue to be a powerful tool in helping first responders take to the frontline.  

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major Accomplishments 2020-2022

Made over 700 therapy dog visits touching the hearts of more than 30,000 first responders at police and fire stations, dispatch centers, emergency departments, and wild land fire base camps (January 2021 - October 2022).  


Raised $66,000 in donations largely from individuals as well as from local events, T-shirts sales, innovative online photo contest, and more (June 2021 to October 2022)


Built a large social media presence to drive donations and share the experiences first responders are having with therapy dogs. Kerith, the first therapy dog with the organization, has 16.4k Instagram followers (@kerith_the_golden_retreiver), and @firstrespondertherapydogs has over 4k.


Executive Director Carman Awarded a CBS San Francisco Jefferson Award for Public Service, June 2021. Local winners are ordinary people who do extraordinary things without expectation of recognition. 


Became a registered nonprofit 501(c)3 in April 2022.

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For general information | Info@firstrespondertherapydogs.org  415-250-8107  


First Responder Therapy Dogs, INC 2100 4th Street #C153 San Rafael, CA 94901  


First Responder Therapy Dogs, INC is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit. Tax ID #88-1386472.

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