Kilo, a 4-year-old rescue dog, has become an integral part of the Palm Beach Gardens Fire Department. His handler, Julie Dudley, a retired firefighter and paramedic, started training him as a service dog and later dual-trained him as a therapy dog.

Kilo’s Role in the Fire Department

Kilo is certified by the Organization Alliance of Therapy Dogs and is one of the first certified Peer Crisis Response K9s on the state team in Palm Beach County. He provides comfort, support, and a sense of calm to firefighters and first responders, especially after stressful situations.

Trista Palette, a firefighter and paramedic with Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue, said, ‘Kilo is a good outlet for us after a stressful situation. He comes in and we gather around him, and sometimes we don’t need to talk about it, we just need his presence.’

Mental Health Awareness

Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue is working to change the stigma surrounding mental health by making it a priority for firefighters. Kilo plays a huge role in this effort, starting conversations and raising awareness about the importance of mental health.

Original reporting: WPBF West Palm Beach — read the source article.