Kerith The Dog Is Bringing Joy To California Firefighters Battling The Wildfires

Aug 31, 2020

Meet Kerith the golden retriever, a guide dog turned therapy dog that is helping firefighters in California find comfort to battle flames better.

The California wildfires are growing every day with more than 1.6 million acres under raging fires. Some areas are more affected than others such as the 2700-acre Woodward Fire in Marin County, according to KRON4. Such areas need hundreds of firefighters. The work of these firefighters, like that of soldiers, is demanding. At the end of a long day, they need comfort, and they find that in Kerith the Dog.

An update by ABC7 on August 27 shared that the Woodward Fire has spread to at least 2,860 acres. NBC Bay Area reported that to fight the fire, at least 400 firefighters with 19 fire engines, two water scooping planes, and five helicopters are on the ground. The firefighters have no time to rest lest the flames keep spreading. Back at the camp, these firefighters find comfort in Kerith the golden retriever.

According to The Dodo, Kerith was initially trained as a guide for the blind but was later trained as a crisis response therapy dog. As a certified therapy dog, she knows how to make people feel comfortable no matter what stresses them.

Every day, Kerith visit the firefighters at their camp to keep them company. Her visits are helping the heroes keep on with their work. It appears Kerith loves her job as she is seen comfortable posing for photos with the heroes of the California wildfires.

For a long time, the friendliness of dogs has provided relief and comfort to people in stressful situations. Therapy dogs such as Kerith have always been a welcome presence in times of tragedies and natural disasters. Kerith has the skills and the will to help the firefighters until the flames are defeated.

Kerith is only two years old. For the past few weeks, her daily routine has involved visiting the firefighters at the Marin County Wildfire Base Camp, something that she appears to love doing. While there, she interacts with the firefighters and even takes photos.

The firefighters are all smiles in the photos, and they are happy when Kerith is around. She is a source of comfort and happiness for the men and women fighting the raging fires day and night. To keep the fires from ravaging the neighboring communities, the firefighters not only have to work long hours, but also be in the right state of mind. Kerith helps give them reprieve as they get ready for the next long day.

According to the firefighters, putting out the fire pushes them to their limits, and having a dog around is a way of bringing normalcy in an otherwise stressful day. “All these abnormal events are getting really tiring on all our folks here. So having that comfort is therapeutic,” said John Aitchinson, one of the firefighters in Marin County.

A lot of times, firefighters battle traumatic ordeals and near-death experiences. The presence of Kerith gives them a calm feeling – one that they can only get if they were back home with their families. Often, these heroes harbor their feelings and live with the trauma and stress of fighting a fire that can kill you.

However, with Kerith around, they are not reluctant to open up and talk about everything that bothers them. Kerith doesn’t have to do anything besides being around and being playful.

To the firefighters, her presence brings familiarity. As the fires rage into more acres, the firefighters are spending more time away from their families. Because golden retrievers are happy dogs, Kerith reminds the firefighters of home. The affection and the love that Kerith shows is enough to keep the firefighters motivated.

Kerith passed five tests to get certified. Now that she is certified, her hobbies include jumping, dancing, and taking photos with firefighters. What do you think of Kerith? Does her work inspire you? Let us know in the comments and be sure to pass this along!