Melbourne Fire Department Welcomes First-Ever Therapy Dog to Peer Support Team

Rigs Joins Melbourne Fire Department as Its First Therapy Dog

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA — The Melbourne Fire Department marked a milestone of compassion and care during its December 12 Service and Achievement Ceremony, officially welcoming its first-ever therapy dog, Rigs, to the department’s ranks.

Rigs, a friendly and highly trained canine, is the newest member of Melbourne Fire’s Peer Support Team — a group of firefighters dedicated to providing confidential, peer-to-peer support to colleagues coping with the emotional toll of emergency response work.

The ceremony celebrated Rigs alongside firefighters who earned promotions and received awards, underscoring the department’s commitment to both professional excellence and mental well-being.

Over the past several years, the Peer Support Team has worked to expand the ways it supports firefighters who regularly encounter traumatic, life-altering incidents.

The addition of a therapy dog represents a significant step forward, aimed at reducing stress and making it easier for firefighters to engage in peer support.

“A dog helps lighten the mood and also helps break the ice after a bad call,” said Lt. Kayla Burri, one of the leaders of the Peer Support Team and Rigs’ handler. “Sometimes it’s hard for people to admit they’re struggling. Rigs help make that first step a little easier.”

Therapy dogs are known for their ability to detect elevated cortisol levels, the hormone associated with stress. According to Lt. Burri, Rigs naturally gravitates toward individuals who may be silently struggling, offering comfort without judgment.

“He’ll walk around to everyone in the group, but he often spends a little more time with certain people,” Burri said.

“That gives everyone an opportunity to pet him or reach out, which helps lower stress hormones and increase oxytocin — the feel-good hormone. He helps us recognize stress levels beyond what someone might say out loud. He makes our job easier while also helping us do our jobs better.”

The journey to bring Rigs to the department began last spring, when Lt. Burri researched the proven benefits of therapy dogs within the fire service.

She ultimately found Rigs through a Tampa-based rescue organization, TheDoodPack. Over the last six months, the pair dedicated hundreds of hours to training, completing multiple courses to prepare Rigs for his role as a fire service K9.

Rigs is now a nationally recognized therapy dog with the Alliance of Therapy and an official member of the Melbourne Fire Department’s Peer Support Team.

His work is just beginning. Rigs will continue training while accompanying Lt. Burri to and from work, attending peer support deployments, and serving as a station dog. This role allows him to make a daily impact by boosting morale, creating a calmer environment, and easing stress during routine shifts.

Looking ahead, plans are in place for Rigs and Lt. Burri to pursue Animal Crisis Response certification.

The six-week program would allow the team to deploy to statewide incidents while further refining their ability to help firefighters and their families process traumatic events — both in times of crisis and at home in Melbourne.

As firefighters face the demands of a challenging profession, Melbourne Fire officials say Rigs represents a new kind of support — one built on empathy, connection, and a wagging tail that reminds everyone they’re not alone.

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