4th Annual First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award

Meet Our 2026 Finalists!

Our winner will be announced Friday, November 13

Thank you to all 23 therapy dogs, and to the handlers, trainers, and organizations behind them, who entered this year’s First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award. The work you do matters. You show up after the hardest calls, at fire stations, police departments, dispatch centers, and hospitals, in the moments when first responders need support most.

Thank you, too, to everyone who voted and shared. Over 15 days of public voting, nearly 4,000 votes came in to choose this year’s 10 finalists.

Our 10 finalists, the dogs who received the most votes from the public, are Bishop, Crew, Hoagie, Koko, Mayzie, Nova, Oliver, Probie, Tonka, and Wyatt the Weightlifter.

Our selection committee, made up of representatives from FHE Health and First Responders Pack Foundation, is now reviewing each finalist’s application and story. We’ll announce the 2026 winner on Friday, November 13.

Hover over or tap each photo to read their story. (Order is randomized)

Wyatt• Wyatt the Weightlifter is a 3½ year old Goldendoodle certified through the National Alliance of Therapy Dogs. He serves first responders and the Pickens County community with his handler, Captain Shannon Ellenburg. • Wyatt supports the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office through daily interactions with first responders and regularly attends peer support debriefings following difficult and traumatic calls. • He has provided comfort during major critical incidents, including the Table Rock Complex Fire and Hurricane Helene, supporting first responders during incredibly challenging situations. • Wyatt is active throughout the community, visiting schools, libraries, nursing homes, local businesses, and community events to provide comfort, connection, and companionship. • He is so loved at the local Walmart that he has his own name badge and visits employees almost every week. Throughout Pickens County, Wyatt is widely recognized, loved, and welcomed wherever he goes.

Bishop• Bishop is a Dalmatian supporting first responders through peer support, CISM response, and wellness visits. • His impact inspired Bishop’s Mission, supporting first responders, veterans, and the working K9s who serve alongside them.

Koko- Known for her sweet personality and affectionate handholding, KOKO brings comfort, love, and joy to Life EMS first responders during stressful and demanding days. - With more than 100 hours of visits, KOKO supports 911 call center staff and paramedics, offering moments of connection, calm, and emotional relief.

Mayzie• 8-year-old rescue dog who overcame abandonment, trauma, and aspiration pneumonia to become a certified therapy dog and earn six AKC titles. • Began therapy work in 2021 with her handler, a former EMT, at the Caldor Fire Base Camp. • Has completed 200+ visits, providing comfort and support to more than 3,000 first responders, healthcare workers, and families across Northern California. • As a Foothill Dog Rescue ambassador, helps raise funds and awareness to help shelter dogs find loving homes.

Oliver-Oliver is a 7-year-old certified therapy dog dedicated to serving first responders, emergency personnel, veterans, and communities in crisis. -He shows up where it matters most through hospital visits, crisis response deployments, and community outreach efforts. -Wherever he goes, Oliver brings comfort, hope, and emotional support to people who need it most.

Hoagie• Meet K9 Hoagie, a Therapy K9 with UW Madison Police Department. • Supports police officers, dispatchers, UWPD staff, and the UW Madison community. • Connects with the community through outreach events and calls for service.

Probie• Oregon’s first certified First Responder Therapy Dog • Serving since 2019 • Supports crews during wildfires and traumatic incidents • Provides comfort and reduces stress • Works with handler Amber Cross • Supports nearly 4,000 people yearly

Nova• Nova is a Crisis Canine with Crisis Canines of the Midlands, dedicated to supporting people during difficult and stressful situations. • She brings comfort, connection, and a calming presence to first responders, schools, and communities. • Nova’s gentle presence helps ease stress, provide emotional support, and create a sense of safety and reassurance. • Whether supporting first responders, students, or community members, Nova helps turn challenging moments into comfort and hope.

Crew- Assigned to the Los Angeles Police Department’s Therapy Dog Unit, part of the Department’s wellness program, Crew provides comfort and emotional support to officers and personnel. - As a Crisis Response Canine, Crew supports individuals, families, communities, and first responders coping with intense emotions following traumatic and critical incidents. - Crew also volunteers with United Cerebral Palsy, bringing companionship, comfort, and positive interactions to adults with developmental disabilities. - Crew is a true Rottweiler breed ambassador. His steady temperament, gentle nature, and confidence showcase the very best of the breed and leave a lasting impression on everyone he meets.

Tonka-Founding dog of APD's Pet Team, grown from 1 to 18 therapy dogs since COVID -Supports officers, dispatchers, and families after critical incidents -Attends funerals, graduations, and memorials -Community funded his 2025 emergency surgery -6 years, thousands of visits

Meet All 23 of Our 2026 Contestants

Hover over or tap each photo to read their story.

Lucy – FRP-Lucy is an AKC Toy Poodle delivering hands-on comfort to 911 dispatchers, firefighters, and EMS crews. -She shows up where it counts, from local CISM debriefings to national APCO sessions. -This tiny hero helps frontline responders decompress, heal, and build resilience one visit at a time.

K9 Rogue• Three-year-old Malinois mix rescue, donated to the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department’s Dog Therapy Program after being rehabilitated through a high school veterinary program • Certified in Canine Good Citizen (CGC) with multiple additional accolades, including investigative and multidisciplinary therapy certifications • Provides comfort and hope to children and adults at Jackson Hospital, as well as emotional support to students throughout Miami-Dade County Public Schools Known for her resilience and loving nature, spreading positivity and joy everywhere she goes

Rawlings"• Four-year-old German Wirehair Pointer who accompanies her handler, the Director of Behavioral Science, to work daily • Brings calm, connection, and “pawsitivity” to employees, helping ease stress and create a welcoming environment • Plays a key role during post-incident debriefings, offering steady comfort that helps staff process difficult experiences • Serves as a living example of how comfort canines strengthen resilience, morale, and community trust in law enforcement "

Mickey• 12 years of extraordinary service and 1,000+ therapy visits • Comforted children, veterans, patients, first responders, and families in crisis • Responded to school shootings, hurricanes, and wildfires • Small paws. Remarkable heart. Lasting legacy.

Rollie-Rollie is a 4-year-old Golden Retriever serving with the Lee County Sheriff's Office Crisis Care K-9 Unit. -He dedicates his days to bringing comfort and healing to children, families, first responders, and individuals in crisis. -One paw, one heart, and one life at a time, Rollie shows up for the people who need him most.

Maya- Maya, the “Data Dog,” brings comfort and calm to first responders during their toughest moments, offering a reassuring presence when stress and emotions are high. - Maya supported the Kansas City Emergency Operations Center during the 2026 World Cup, helping provide encouragement and emotional support to those working behind the scenes. - Maya also helps educate future emergency medical professionals at NAEMSP, bringing connection, comfort, and plenty of tail wags into the learning environment.

Ember Lumen- 2.5-year-old AKC Advanced Therapy Dog (English Bulldog) -Serves with NAFD - 4,000+ training hours - 200+ site visits - Supports first responders, healthcare workers, schools & communities - Provides comfort, connection & resilience

Orio• Certified therapy dog for 5 years, bringing comfort and emotional support to veterans and first responders. • Visits alongside her owner, a disabled veteran and Firefighter/Paramedic living with PTSD, anxiety, and depression. • Brightens lives with her gentle nature, providing companionship and lifting spirits during difficult times. • Inspires connection, peer support, and healing while helping her handler stay engaged and support others.

Copper• Copper is a certified Love on a Leash therapy dog who visits the Bismarck Fire Department weekly. • He brings comfort and smiles to firefighters, including scheduled monthly station visits. • After difficult fires or medical calls, Copper helps firefighters relax, recharge, and briefly take their minds off stressful experiences.

Max• Max is a Havanese who certified as a therapy dog in August 2024. • Weekly Chicago OEMC visits since summer 2025, 50+ total • Eases stress for often-overlooked 9-1-1 staff • Boosts morale, focus, and comfort, per OEMC

Rumor-Golden retriever from Puerto Rico, once a show dog -Service dog for firefighter Casey McIntosh -Trained in deep pressure therapy for PTSD -Crates herself safely during calls -Comforts the whole station crew

Polar• Facility dog from United Disabilities Services, assigned to Breaking Free Counseling in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania • Provides therapy, comfort, and grounding to first responders and trauma survivors • Supports clients in EMDR therapy sessions, aiding in emotional regulation and healing • Participates in community outreach and disaster recovery efforts, bringing calm and hope to those in need

Daisy-Daisy is a young pup with a gift for comforting others. -She supports first responders, healthcare workers, and children. -Off-duty, she loves snuggles, outdoor adventures, and her three Lab siblings.

2026 Contest Timeline

Applications open: Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Applications close: Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Public voting (to determine 10 finalists): Monday, October 5 – Monday, October 19, 2026
Finalists announced: Monday, November 2, 2026
Committee review: Underway now
Winner announced: Friday, November 13, 2026

Dates are subject to change.

The Award

The winner of the fourth annual First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award will receive:

A $4,000 check in support of their work
A gift basket from Chewy
Free national publicity, including a feature blog shared across FHE Health’s social channels and a press release announcing the news
A $1,000 donation made in their honor by FHE Health to our partner organization, First Responders Pack Foundation, which exists to train more therapy dogs for first responders

All 10 finalists will receive a “Top Paws Therapy Dog Award” badge to display on their website or blog in recognition of their status as a finalist.

The Cause – Why Participate

It’s not every day that we get to honor a therapy dog for its excellence in service or support our first responders and their mental health. Now we’re doing both, by offering the “First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award.” This nationwide contest will showcase therapy dogs everywhere in the many roles they fill, while also spotlighting therapy dogs that assist first responders—and the critical need for more such dogs, both in South Florida and in communities across the U.S.

The Need for More Therapy Dogs for First Responders

America’s first responders are on the frontlines of danger every day, saving lives and keeping our communities and nation safe. That can take a toll on their mental health.

Therapy dogs help these heroic men and women rebound from emergencies and reset between calls. The calming, healing presence of these dogs enables first responders to process the on-the-job traumas they’ve experienced and cope better with stress, grief, and anxiety.

As indispensable as they are in this capacity, therapy dogs can also be expensive to acquire and take time to train. This contest shines a light on the critical role they play in supporting America’s public safety professionals. By recognizing one therapy dog for its excellence in service and by sharing their story with a national audience, we hope to advocate for more such therapy dogs in more communities across America.

Contest Rules & Details

Eligibility and Application Requirements

Who could apply: Any owner, handler, or trainer and their therapy dog, in any context, was eligible to apply. Anyone who wanted to apply on behalf of a therapy dog that has made a difference in their life or community could also apply. The selection committee looks for evidence of impact on the first responder population, though dogs did not need to work exclusively with first responders.

One dog per organization: In the spirit of a fair playing field, we limited applications to one dog per organization so that as many dogs and organizations as possible could be represented. We recognize this can be hard to enforce for large organizations with many dogs across agencies or branches; however, blatant violations are taken into account during the selection process.

What applicants submitted:

A short typed essay (at least one paragraph) about the nominated dog, its story, and why it should receive the First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award
Proof of training, such as therapy dog certification, enrollment in a certification course, or course(s) qualifying the dog to serve in its context (hospital, nursing home, fire department, etc.)
A photo of the dog
Any links to news or media reports about the dog
A completed application form

The Selection Process

The 10 finalists were chosen by public vote during the voting period, October 5–19, 2026. The winner will be chosen from among the finalists by a small committee with representatives from FHE Health and FHE Health’s partner organization First Responders Pack Foundation. The Broward County-based non-profit is officially recognized by the American Kennel Club as a Certified Therapy Dog Organization and exists to train more therapy dogs to support the mental and emotional health of first responders in the aftermath of trauma.

Firefighter Dean Moreno, the founder of First Responders Pack Foundation, will help lead the selection committee. Moreno is a certified AKC evaluator for Star Puppy, Canine Good Citizen, Community Canine, and Urban Canine Good Citizen and can issue the Therapy Dog Certificate to eligible dogs. He is currently in the process to become a professional dog trainer.

The Voting Process

Anyone could vote, and each person was allowed one vote. An email address was required to verify each vote. Your email is retained only for the duration of the contest, is never used for marketing or to contact you, and will be deleted from our systems when the contest ends.

To protect the integrity of the vote, we used measures to prevent tampering and manipulation, such as multiple or spammy email submissions. After voting closed, we also reviewed every submission and removed duplicate votes before determining the finalists.

Non-Discrimination Policy Disclaimer

FHE Health does not discriminate on any basis, whether by age, race, sex, religion, disability status or sexual orientation. All qualified applicants are given equal consideration and are assessed strictly based on the strength of their application and essay. It is at the sole discretion of our team to select the dog we feel is most deserving of this award. By applying for or voting in the First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award, you agree to FHE Health’s privacy policy and disclaimer.

About FHE Health

FHE Health, a national behavioral health provider, has been serving adults (ages 18 and up) with mental health and substance use needs since 2001. From its headquarters in Deerfield Beach, Florida, the facility serves men and women from around the country with integrated care, specialized treatment programs, and evidence-based therapies.

FHE’s specialized treatment program “Shatterproof at FHE Health” serves first responders, many of whom have achieved quicker, more comprehensive recovery through neuroscience-based treatments, trauma therapies like EMDR, peer support groups, and … the occasional visit from a therapy dog.

How to Reach Our Team

We are not able to take or return phone calls. If you have a question, email us at marketing@fhehealth.com, and one of our team will respond when able.