04/07/2025
Santa Monica Fire Department adds new member: Roger the support dog
SANTA MONICA, CA (April 7, 2025) – The Santa Monica Fire Department this week launched a new K-9 Peer Support Program, an initiative designed to support the mental health and wellbeing of firefighters and other Santa Monica city employees and community members.
The program’s first K-9 team member, an English Labrador named Roger, is a certified support K-9 trained in providing comfort and companionship. Working alongside a designated peer support team handler, Roger will visit fire stations, attend debriefings after critical incidents, attend community events to interact with the public and be available to firefighters and city employees in need of emotional support.
Through Roger’s efforts, the program aims to provide comfort, reduce stress and promote emotional resilience for Santa Monica Fire Department, or SMFD, personnel as well as the broader community.
“We are thrilled to introduce this program as a proactive step in supporting the mental wellness of our firefighters and city employees,” Fire Chief Matthew Hallock said. “The presence of a therapy dog has been proven to lower stress levels, improve morale and encourage open conversations about mental health. We believe this initiative will make a meaningful impact on our team.”
Firefighters face high levels of stress due to the intense and often traumatic nature of their work. Recognizing the need for enhanced mental health support, SMFD has integrated the K-9 Peer Support Program as part of its commitment and dedication to prioritizing a healthy and supportive work environment.
SMFD joins a growing number of agencies across the nation in bringing on a K-9 support program to prioritize mental health for first responders. In Southern California, that list includes Redondo Beach Fire, Orange County Fire Authority, Huntington Beach Fire, Westminster Police Department, Newport Beach Fire and Torrance Fire.
The Santa Monica Fire Department extends its gratitude to the city staff, community partners and mental health professionals who have helped bring this program to life. The department remains committed to exploring innovative ways to enhance the well-being of its personnel and aligns with national best practices for firefighter mental health and wellness.
