Lanark County Paramedic Service (LCPS) has announced a new partnership with the Canadian Veterans Service Dog Unit (CVSDU) to help train service dogs that will one day support Canadian veterans and first responders.
The Dog Unit trains dogs to assist people living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and operational stress injuries.
Before training begins, the dogs need to be exposed to new environments.
The Paramedic Services bases will now offer a safe space for this early socialization, giving the animals confidence while offering comfort to paramedics on shift.
“This is an incredible partnership that will benefit both our staff and the future service dogs,” said Tristan Layer, Commander of Operations at LCPS.
The first visit is scheduled for September 5. Paramedics say the dogs will bring calm and positive energy to their stations while preparing for a future of life-changing work.
We’ll have more on this story, including reaction from LCPS in the coming days.