SANFORD, Fla. — Service dogs in training will get practice around sirens, flashing lights and firefighters in protective gear Saturday as the Seminole County Fire Department helps prepare them for emergency situations.
Four dogs and their handlers from Lake Mary-based Do Unto Others Assistance Dogs are expected at Fire Station 39, 5639 First St., from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 24.
The session will help the dogs become comfortable with the sights, sounds and activities associated with first responders and emergency vehicles, according to the Fire Department.
Read: 9 facts about service dogs and their training
Practicing around emergency equipment
Firefighters will introduce the dogs to fire engines, ambulances, emergency lights and sirens.
The training will also include encounters with firefighters wearing full protective gear and breathing apparatus. Handlers will accompany their dogs inside an ambulance, and planned exercises include a patient transfer to a stretcher with a service dog present.
The goal is to make those unfamiliar experiences more comfortable for the dogs before they encounter them while assisting someone.
Meet the dogs expected to participate
The Fire Department identified four dogs scheduled for the training:
- Spartacus: A 2-year-old bullmastiff.
- Autumn: A 2-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever.
- Beacon: A nearly 2-year-old golden retriever.
- Chance: A 6-month-old yellow Labrador retriever.
Do Unto Others Assistance Dogs trains dogs to assist people with disabilities. Its services include mobility assistance, skills tailored to people with autism and support for people training their own service dogs.
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