FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – He may only stand 4 inches off the ground, but he now plays a big role for Flagler County Fire Rescue.
Meet Taco, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, a therapy dog for firefighters, other first responders and the citizens of Flagler County.
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Taco and his human, community paramedic Rob Errett, on Wednesday officially began their new roles after graduating from Paws and Stripes College, a program established in 2006 by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.
“(Fire Rescue) Chief Tucker could see a change in people when Taco was around and he floated the idea to go to therapy dog class with Taco, and I was 100% on board,” Errett said. “I went home and discussed this with my wife. We decided that we wanted to do it. We thought it would be nothing but a terrific benefit for our team.”
Tucker is thrilled about the initiative, saying he believes Flagler County’s program will set a new standard for others to follow.
“The usage of therapy dogs within emergency services is a growing trend to ensure the mental health of our citizens and our first responders,” Tucker said. “We work in a macho profession, and we lose a lot of men every year to suicide. If the guys don’t want to open up about something, they can open up to Taco without saying a word.”
As proud members of the Flagler County Fire Rescue Peer Support Team and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team, Taco will be at the fire department and on standby during critical incidents.
While he won’t be at the station every day, Errett said he can easily fetch him when needed since he lives 10 minutes away from the Government Services Complex.
You’re a good boy, Taco!