BELMONT — When writing a memoir about her life in Laconia, Claire Hebert-Dow described how her pets not only gave her companionship and comfort, they also helped her to find the strength to get through difficult moments. It only seemed appropriate for her to direct the proceeds from her book sales to make that kind of comfort available to the people who need it most, and the first expression of that mission is a dog she is purchasing for the town of Belmont, which will become the first comfort dog in New Hampshire assigned to a fire department.
The dog, currently a nursing puppy, is a male black Labrador retriever at Boonefield Labradors, a breeder in Rindge specializing in service dogs. Fire Chief Deb Black expects to collect the dog — he doesn’t have a name yet — in early April, and will immediately begin accompanying Black to work.
Black said she wants to bring the dog to the station as early as possible, to acclimate him to an environment where people and large vehicles are coming and going. He will also benefit from the guidance of A.J., an adult chocolate Lab that often accompanies another firehouse employee to work.
More formalized training will be provided by Doggonit Training, based in Gilford, which will equip Belmont’s new pup with the skills he will need once he begins his official duties, which might begin as soon as the end of the calendar year.
When he does, he will make history as the first comfort dog in the Granite State to be stationed in a fire department.
Hebert-Dow said she had long intended for her writing enterprise to fund some sort of working dog. After publishing “Saving Mama” last year, she refined that focus to providing a comfort dog, and began looking for a local department receptive to the idea. When a local police officer introduced her to Black, Hebert-Dow knew she had met her first match.
“She was so open to it, I knew that when I left that first day,” she said.
“I will be the handler,” Black said, explaining the dog will live with her and travel with her throughout her work day. She will also undergo training with the dog, and said she envisions the dog helping to provide some calm and comfort to people in stressful situations, such as when one of the local schools conducts a fire drill, or if there’s an emergency.
“I had a situation just the other day,” Black said, explaining a medical call where the patient had to be transported, and the only other person at the home was a young child. A police officer stayed with the child until a trusted adult could be summoned to the scene. It might have provided the child with more comfort had there been a wet nose and some furry ears there as well.
The idea passed muster when brought to the town selectboard, said board member Sharon Ciampi. She said she was in from the first moment, and other board members were only slightly less eager.
It helped that the addition will come at no cost to the town. Hebert-Dow is paying the breeder’s fees, Doggonit is donating the training services, and Black said she is finalizing agreements with a local feed store and a local veterinarian to provide nutrition and care for the dog.
“I think that given our time right now with a lot of the things that are going on socially, drug addiction and children in foster care, the older generation being as large as it is and the loneliness, if you need help. And the fire department comes, and they've got a a dog you can pet,” Ciampi said. “Even for that split second, anything that gives someone in need of assistance some joy is a good thing.”
Peggi Brogan, of Boonefield Labradors, said their dogs serve a variety of communities and municipal departments, including police departments, schools and mental health facilities.
“These dogs are incredibly empathetic and have an inherent awareness with regards to the ‘need,’” Brogan wrote in an emailed request for comment. “To see them work a room and hone in on the ones that need them the most is incredible.”
She said as part of the Belmont Fire Department, the dog will help break down emotional barriers which people in crisis sometimes put up around themselves, providing comfort, but also allowing other responders to better do their work.
Black said the dog won’t be limited to fire department activities. If the police, schools or neighboring towns experience something that would be easier to handle with a pair of puppy eyes to look into, she’d be happy to bring the dog to the scene.
As Hebert-Dow is convinced after a lifetime of experience, “there’s a lot going on behind those eyes.”
