Opinion: Drew the Dog is always there for those who need him most

One of the most important members of the North River Fire District has a bed in every room at Station 1. Truth be told, Drew does like his naps.

He likes the Crunchy O’s dog treats Fire Marshal Andrell Miller keeps in his pocket too. But most of all, he likes being petted, and you'd be surprised how much this means.

Drew is a 4-year-old Labrador retriever who came to the Palmetto station from Southeastern Guide Dogs. He didn't quite meet the standards to become a guide dog for the visually impaired, so he trained to become what's called a facilities therapy dog.

These types of dogs can help people recovering in military hospitals or personnel who work in high-stress environments. Fire and rescue workers certainly fall into that category.

Has anyone ever stopped to think how stressful this job really is? Their work is not a cliché, like pulling a cat out of a tree. The horrors these workers witness can be unspeakable. And then they all go home to their families, some as parents of children.

There was a short stretch earlier in May, for example, when the North River fire and rescue workers were on-scene after fatal accidents involving children.

In one, a 4-year-old was thrown from a vehicle and died. In another, several days later, a 12-year-old died while crossing a street.

"Our people see stuff all the time," said North River Chief Joe Sicking. "It gets to them."

A debriefing was held in the aftermath of those accidents. A chaplain, who sometimes will go to a crash site, can make the determination if a debriefing should be held. In addition, employees have access to therapists, and money is budgeted for each one to attend three per year.

There are 60 workers at five North River Fire District stations in Manatee County. The District fields about 8,500 calls per year, maybe five to 10 a shift.

"When people don't know who else to call they call us," Sicking said.

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They deal with everything from hazardous material accidents to boat fires in Port Manatee to gas leaks. About 65% of the calls are for medical emergencies.

"Just about anything you could imagine, I've seen," Sicking said.

Sicking is Drew's handler, having gone through the proper training at Southeastern Guide Dogs. Drew goes home with Sicking after each shift, where he is just a regular dog, chasing balls in the yard and squirrels up trees.

At the station, he is all business. The business of being there for those who need him, whenever they need him.

"It’s impressive," Sicking said. "I think they sense emotion if you are stressed. He makes a big difference. It's nice to have him."

Drew not only looks handsome, but he also looks wise. He knows 12 commands too. One of the commands is "chin." When Drew hears that command, he will rest his chin on a person's leg, which can be quite therapeutic for someone in a hospital bed.

Drew spends his time at Station 1 in Palmetto, which is where the administration building is as well. The employees at that station taught Drew how to stop, drop and roll, and when Drew is brought into schools, he shows children the technique.

Sicking has thought of perhaps taking Drew to difficult scenes so he can be there for those in the field who are struggling.

But for now, Drew sticks to the station. He takes naps, eats treats, and even lets the mail carrier and Fed-Ex guy pet him. Name another dog that does that.

Most importantly, he is always there for the people who are always there for you.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Labrador retriever lends emotional support to fire and rescue workers