Heidi Karman Has Certified Over 500 Therapy Dog Teams to Support 150,000 First Responders' Mental Health

Firefighters, paramedics, and police officers see humanity at its worst — every shift. They pull people from burning buildings, respond to violent crimes, and witness tragedies that most of us can only imagine. The toll on their mental health is devastating: first responders experience PTSD, depression, and anxiety at rates far exceeding the general population, and suicide among first responders has reached crisis levels.

Heidi Karman, a CNN Hero from California, saw this crisis and found an unlikely solution: therapy dogs. In 2021, she founded First Responder Therapy Dogs, an organization that trains and certifies therapy dog teams specifically designed to support the mental health of emergency service workers.

“They pull people from burning buildings, respond to violent crimes, and witness tragedies that most of us can only imagine.”

The concept is simple but powerful. Trained therapy dogs are stationed at fire stations, police precincts, and EMS facilities, providing a constant source of comfort and emotional support. The dogs offer something that traditional mental health services often struggle to provide: a completely non-judgmental presence that first responders feel comfortable engaging with, even in a culture that often stigmatizes seeking help.

The results have been remarkable. Since its founding, First Responder Therapy Dogs has certified over 500 therapy-dog teams operating across 46 states, reaching more than 150,000 first responders. Station commanders report that the presence of therapy dogs has measurably improved morale, reduced stress-related incidents, and encouraged workers to open up about their mental health struggles.

Karman's inspiration came from her own therapy dog, Kerith, who showed her the profound impact that a calm, loving animal presence can have on people under extreme stress. "We have helped so many people," Karman has said. "I am grateful to Kerith for showing me the way."

The organization trains both the dogs and their handlers in techniques specifically tailored to the first responder environment, including how to provide support after critical incidents, during long shifts, and in high-stress situations. The program has become a model for workplace mental health support, proving that sometimes the most effective therapist has four legs and a wagging tail.