As individuals working in the EMS sector are aware, there are many emotionally taxing situations that we must deal with. For many years, workers at Mobile Medical Response in Saginaw, Michigan, have wished for a station dog who could help them unwind and was always on call.
We were in touch with the Bay County Humane Society in Michigan since we knew we wanted a rescue dog (BCHS).
The Michigan Department of Corrections’ Iron Paws program includes BCHS. Several dogs are accepted into this program and are placed in the prison where they are cared for and trained by two inmates. Training a dog in a busy, boisterous setting would work well for our station.
We conducted our research before deciding what to do. Gladys would be around all the time, so we talked to everyone who would come into contact with her, including our CEO, to find out what the staff felt.
We decided who would be in charge of driving her to her appointments. We also established clear guidelines for how we would handle her daily care.
We even included a backup plan because some people were skeptical. If it didn’t work out, our Assistant VP of Operations, Eric, offered to take the puppy home to live with him.
We have now had Gladys for four months. She is cared for by both the office staff and the road crew.
We utilize a dry erase board to keep track of bathroom breaks, walks, and runs. Additionally, our dispatch center takes over care if our supervisor is absent and no one else is there.
Gladys’care is self-funded by contributions from the leadership and staff. Through bottle returns, expenses were largely offset. At a meeting, a resident gave $100 to help with Gladys’ care.
Gladys visited all of our MMR divisions during EMS Week to meet staff members she had never met. In May, Gladys made her debut in public relations at the Frankenmuth Dog Bowl in Frankenmuth, Michigan. She performed well, considering that there were 8,000 canines and about 100,000 people present. Gladys truly represents our company well.
The advantages of having Gladys here are numerous and occasionally understated. Gladys can detect signs of tension or fatigue in others. When we have had a long and difficult day, she shows us unconditional affection. Overall, Gladys is helping us out and will be a lifelong member of the MMR family.
