As wildfires continue to spread throughout the Golden State, firefighters are working tirelessly around the clock to contain them. While the task is certainly daunting, this 2-year-old golden retriever is hoping to boost the morale of the hardworking firefighters. Kerith, a certified crisis response therapy dog, is offering her comfort to the firemen and, apparently, takes her job very seriously.
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Meet Kerith—the goodest girl in California who's offering her support to overworked firefighters
Image credits: kerith_the_golden_retriever
Kerith's owner Heidi Carman explained to the media that the goldie was destined to be a human helper. She was initially raised to be a guide dog for visually impaired people. However, due to her bubbly and affectionate personality, her owner decided that a career of a certified therapy dog would be more suited for Kerith.
She's a certified crisis response therapy dog
Image credits: kerith_the_golden_retriever
The owner of the 2-year-old good girl told the media that she loves people more than anything else, dogs included. "It was clear to me from an early age that she would be an excellent therapy dog because of her love and devotion to people," she told Pop Sugar.
And is boosting the morale of hardworking people who are trying to contain the fires in the Golden State
Image credits: kerith_the_golden_retriever
Kerith went through training at Pet Partners organization and passed the evaluations with flying colors. Afterward, she started working at the emergency department of a local hospital in California, where she would visit patients, their families, and staff of the hospital. "It was love at first sight," Kerith's owner Heidi told the media about the goldie's immediate love for the firefighters she met. Soon enough, they began requesting Kerith to visit the stations they work in.
She loves attention from people and is always ready to offer some comforting snuggles
Image credits: kerith_the_golden_retriever
After the wildfires started spreading throughout California, Heidi knew that the firefighters on duty needed Kerith's love and support. So far, Heidi has taken the therapy dog to the Woodward Fire base camp in Marin County and the Creek Fire base camp in Fresno County—two areas that were affected the most.
Kerith has been a fan of humans ever since she was born
Image credits: kerith_the_golden_retriever
When visiting locations, Heidi arrives with Kerith around 6 a.m. when the firefighters are having their breakfast and getting ready for their upcoming 24-hour shifts. The good girl walks around everyone, offering snuggles, hugs, and kisses to everyone she meets.
Her owner realized immediately that she'd make a perfect therapy dog
Image credits: kerith_the_golden_retriever
Interestingly enough, Kerith's owner told the media that the golden retriever has an amazing quality of matching people's energy. "If a firefighter is super excited and lays on the ground so Kerith can roll around and play with them, then Kerith will be higher energy and silly with them. If a firefighter is calm, stressed, and withdrawn, Kerith will be calm as well," Heidi told Pop Sugar.
And it seems that Kerith herself loves her job
Image credits: kerith_the_golden_retriever
When the human is stressed, Kerith's owner says that she'll "sit closely to the individual, sometimes sit on their feet and lean into their body in a way that says, 'I am here for you as long as you need me.'"
She even matches the energy of people she's comforting
Image credits: kerith_the_golden_retriever
Golden retrievers have been known for a long time to be one of the best breeds to become emotional support animals. They are extremely friendly, patient, and affectionate, which makes them perfect pets, especially for children and those in need of emotional support. In addition to this, golden retrievers are easily trained compared to other breeds.
"If a firefighter is calm, stressed, and withdrawn, Kerith will be calm as well"
Image credits: kerith_the_golden_retriever
While therapy dogs are trained to provide comfort and support, they are not to be confused with assistance dogs. Therapy dogs visit nursing homes, retirement homes, hospices, etc., to provide emotional support, while assistance dogs are trained specifically to aid people with their physical needs.
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