Erhart/York Fire Department swears in county's first trauma and crisis support K-9

YORK TWP. — Hank, a 4-month-old Burmese Lab mix puppy, was sworn in as the newest member of the Erhart/York Fire Department on Wednesday. Hank is Medina County's first trauma and crisis support K-9 for first responders. Monica Zieja, a Erhart/York firefighter and paramedic for the past 29 years, is his handler. Zieja recently joined Medina County's F1rst team, which is a support group for first responders. The team can be requested after an incident to help everyone involved debrief. "With joining the group, I realized we need to help each other," she said. "We need to be there for each other." Fire Chief Jason Creamer said depression and post-traumatic stress disorder are five times greater for first responders than the general population, and the department believed it needed to do more to recognize and address first responders' trauma. "First responders are an integral part of our society and respond to emergencies every day, not knowing what the incident will entail," he said. "When first responders are exposed to traumatic events, it takes a toll on each one of them." Studies show having a therapy dog enhances people's moods and lowers stress levels, Creamer said. As a result, Hank was recently adopted from Heaven to Earth Rescue in Tuscarawas County. "All of us have done different things that have traumatized us or stick in our head, and sometimes it's just as simple as Hank walking in a room and petting on him, loving him, rolling around on the floor with him, and you forget that," Zieja said. Hank is available for first responders through the F1rst team, she said. Those who need Hank's services can contact reach out to Zieja or Creamer. "All the first responders, police, fire, EMS, I feel like we're all getting bonded more together now than we ever used to be," Zieja said. "Hank was my opportunity to do that and give more to my brothers and sisters in the field." Funding for Hank is based on donations such as Bil-Jac providing his food and Dog Gone Crazy sponsoring his training, she said. He finished his puppy star training, but still needs to go through obedience, good citizen and therapy training. "There's too much bad in our jobs," Zieja said. "Everybody knows that. I just want to try to bring some joy to all of us." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.