Milford Therapy Dog Lucy Up for National First Responder Paws Award
Lucy, a local therapy dog who supports first responders across Delaware, has been nominated for FHE Health’s national First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award, with public voting open Oct. 5-19. (Photo courtesy of First Responder Paws.)
Lucy, a local therapy dog who provides support to first responders across Delaware, has been nominated for the First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award, a national recognition program hosted by behavioral health provider FHE Health.
Public voting for the fourth annual award will open Oct. 5 and continue through Oct. 19. The winning dog and handler will receive a $4,000 award to support their work, along with other recognition and resources, including a feature blog, a gift basket from Chewy and a donation made in their honor to First Responders Pack Foundation, an organization that trains therapy dogs for first responders.
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Lucy works alongside the Kent County Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team, providing wellness support to 911 dispatchers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel. The certified therapy dog participates in critical incident debriefings, shift visits and peer support check-ins, offering responders a calming presence after stressful situations.
“Whether resting her head on a dispatcher’s lap after a critical call or breaking down stigma on a national stage, Lucy proves that even the smallest team member can make a life-changing impact on those who answer the call,” according to information shared about her nomination.
In addition to her work in Delaware, Lucy attends national public safety conferences, including APCO, where she supports handler presentations focused on therapy dog programs and mental health resources for emergency service professionals.
The First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award recognizes therapy dogs and their handlers who help support the mental health and well-being of first responders.
Voting for Lucy opens Oct. 5 at https://fherehab.com/first-responder-paws-award. A valid email address is required to vote and will not be used for any other purpose.
Sara Uzer is a journalist from Sussex County with more than 15 years of experience as a writer, editor, and community advocate. She started her career in Washington, DC and has lived in Sussex County for the past five years.
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