From pandemic to wildfires, Bay Area therapy dogs support first responders on the frontlines
When Heidi Carman arrived at the Moscone Center in March, she didn’t bring proof of her eligibility to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Instead, she brought her 3-year-old, wispy-coated golden retriever named Kerith.
The pair arrived at the thrumming epicenter of The City’s COVID operation to support the exhausted ranks of health-care workers and city employees. For months, the wiggly, 57-pound therapy dog has showed up to put smiles on masked faces and provide a temporary escape from the stress of serving the public during a global pandemic.
But now Kerith and a growing number of certified therapy animals are working on the frontlines of yet another crisis: California’s wildfires. Over the past few weeks, therapy dogs have made regular appearances at the Dixie and Caldor Fire base camps, providing early morning belly rubs and much-needed relief to firefighters.
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