Westchester Insider: Westchester County: VIDEO/PHOTO: COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER GIVES WESTCHESTER WEEKLY UPDATE.

 

Westchester County Executive George Latimer Gives Westchester Weekly Update.

 

Watch the News Conference Here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjJrbqQf5pM

 

Phoenix – Westchester County’s First Responder Therapy Dog –

Obtains Prestigious National Certification.

 (Valhalla, NY) – Phoenix, a 4-year-old Lab mix assigned to the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services, recently achieved a prestigious designation as a certified First Responder Therapy Dog.  Since being obtained in August 2022, Phoenix has been a resource to support the emotional health and wellness of all first responders in Westchester County.

 

County Executive George Latimer congratulated Phoenix and his hander, Samantha Stretz-Fejes, on their most recent accomplishment. He said the decision to obtain a therapy dog was in recognition of stresses and emotional challenges that first responders face on the job.

 

Latimer said: “Our firefighters, EMS personnel, police officers and dispatchers often see terrible things, or handle highly stressful incidents, in the course of their duties. In addition to providing them with the training and equipment they need, it is equally imperative that we support their physical and emotional health however we can.”

 

Phoenix and Stretz-Fejes, who is assigned to the EMS Division at DES, are also members of the Westchester-Putnam Peer Support Team. The team – comprised of police, fire and EMS personnel – is often deployed to support first responders in the aftermath of a large-scale incident or tragedy.

 

DES Deputy Commissioner Susan Spear said Phoenix was obtained through SPCA Westchester. She thanked the staff at the Briarcliff Manor animal rescue shelter for helping DES select a canine with the right temperament and intelligence to succeed as a therapy dog.

 

The national certification is the most recent achievement for Phoenix and Stretz-Fejes. Last year, the American Kennel Club awarded Phoenix its Canine Good Citizen (CGC) award and recognized Stretz-Fejes as an accomplished handler.

 

The CGC title is earned by a canine and its handler after they complete a rigorous 10-skill evaluation focused on obedience and handler development. Adding to their list of accomplishments, Phoenix and Samantha also secured the AKC Novice Trick Dog title. This title is a testament to a canine’s versatility and intelligence, requiring the completion of five unique “tricks,” including giving a high-five, completing an agility tunnel pass, and completing a challenging 'find it 'task to locate a hidden item.

 

With those accomplishments on their resume, Phoenix and Stretz-Fejes was able to proceed to being assessed – and successfully certified – by First Responder Therapy Dogs. The California-based organization is a leader in advocating for the use of therapy dogs to support the mental health needs of first responders.

 

“First Responder Therapy Dogs offer a simple, effective, free mental health tool – emotional support from a trained therapy dog – without the stigma of asking for help,” the organization says on its web site. It notes that research shows measurable benefits, including reduced stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, slower breathing, and improved mood and mental state.