Canine Therapy For First Responders will expand its New Brunswick operations to include the rest of Atlantic Canada.
It was founded in 2019 in honour of fallen officer Constable Robb Costello of the Fredericton Police Force to aid and assist first responder units in understanding the toll being a first responder takes on the person, their life and family.
The organization has working canines, CharlieB and Rosa, with the Miramichi Fire Department and the Kennebecasis Regional Police Force.
George Scott is an advanced care paramedic and volunteer firefighter who also works with CTFFR.
He said master trainer Rhonda Langille and lead canine program facilitator Brian Brown have joined the organization as part of the expansion.
“Bernard Galarneau who is our clinical psychologist who will be working with us and first responders. He was a veteran with the Canadian Armed Forces. 20+ years I believe it is of training in different courses and seminars and things on post-traumatic stress,” Scott said.
CharlieB is deployed with the Miramichi Fire Department.
Image: CTFFR
CTFFR will also be seeking international and courthouse facility dog accreditation.
He says Charlie B is the first dog given permission to work in the justice system and has worked in the Saint John Law Courts many times.
“He worked not only with the sheriffs and court officers but with victims of crime as well,” Scott said.
George Scott said dogs are very intuitive and once they bond with handlers or anyone, they become very intuitive about how that person is feeling if they are stressed or not feeling well.
“It’s amazing to see the change in [a person’s] demeanor when the dogs are in the station.
People that you wouldn’t expect are now playing fetch, rubbing a tummy, or letting them lay next to them,” Scott said.
Here we come #NovaScotia #PrinceEdwardIsland #Newfoundland #Labrador #AtlanticCanada
You opened up. We listened.#k9 #firstresponders #police #sheriff #iaff #firefighter #rcmp #corrections #paramedic #veterans #therapydog #nonprofit #mentalhealth #wellness #NewBrunswick pic.twitter.com/OUkoZR9sT7
— CanineTherapyNB (@CanineNb) August 16, 2021
