Rigs, a one-year-old rescued Poodle/Boerboel (South African Mastiff) mix, has been introduced to the Melbourne Fire Department, primarily stationed with the Peer Support Team as a nonclinical resource for first responders.

Department leaders and staff described a deliberate, internal placement: Rigs moved from a kennel into the station and was made an official member of the crew, settling into the station routine quickly. Station personnel said he is friendly and “not shy,” and that his presence is intended to give firefighters an immediate, low-barrier way to decompress during or between shifts.

“Having a dog around is never hard. It’s always easy. His main job here now is peer support,” Lieutenant Kayla Burri said, describing Rigs as part of the department’s broader efforts to address stress and mental health among personnel. Burri added that he “brings a calm atmosphere. He just lets us release some of our stress hormones.”

Lieutenant Steve Vallente, who credited a department handler for leading the initiative, said the program is designed to reduce barriers to seeking help. “I had a great handler in the department who did all the legwork, and it really breaks down barriers in making people more comfortable in opening up,” he said. Interim Fire Chief Shane Leech is listed among department leadership involved with the rollout.

Rigs will be stationed at Fire Station 78 and made available during shifts and formal peer-support interactions. Department officials emphasized the dog will serve as a nonclinical companion rather than a substitute for counseling or medical treatment: personnel can access Rigs when they want a neutral presence or a momentary mood boost.

The department shared video of the station welcoming Rigs on its YouTube channel in a segment titled “Melbourne Fire Department Welcomes Its First Therapy Dog” (YouTube: “Melbourne Fire Department Welcomes Its First Therapy Dog”).

Officials framed the hire against a growing body of evidence that workplace therapy-animal programs can produce measurable psychological benefits. Research indicates therapy dogs in high-pressure workplaces can reduce emotional exhaustion, burnout and stress while improving mood, work engagement and morale. A pilot study at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center found self-reported improvements in mood among health-care workers who interacted with therapy dogs.

Those outcomes are one reason the department placed Rigs on the Peer Support Team. In practice, therapy dogs for first responders are typically selected for calm temperaments; many programs favor breeds such as Labrador Retrievers or Golden Retrievers. Such teams undergo months of specialized training so dogs and handlers can recognize signs of anxiety or post-traumatic stress, provide grounding through touch and presence, and remain composed amid sirens, crowds and other station activity.

While Rigs’ placement is an internal department initiative, officials noted communities interested in similar programs can pursue partnerships with established nonprofits that register certified therapy-dog teams. Organizations such as Pet Partners and St. John Ambulance run certification and pilot-program frameworks that municipalities and emergency services can use, and advocates point to research showing reduced patient anxiety and lower medication needs in some clinical settings.

Melbourne Fire Department staff said Rigs will remain part of their peer-support resources and available to personnel seeking a neutral companion during stressful shifts. The department framed the program as another tool in its mental-health toolbox: immediate, nonclinical support intended to help personnel manage the cumulative emotional demands of emergency work.

Source: Original reporting and the Melbourne Fire Department’s YouTube segment, “Melbourne Fire Department Welcomes Its First Therapy Dog.”