Port Coquitlam’s fire department has welcomed a new member in its ranks—one with four legs, a tail, and a very important job. Phil the Labrador is the fire department’s first occupational stress intervention dog, and will provide a calming presence for first responders as they cope with the heavy emotional toll that comes with the work. The canine was sworn in with pomp and circumstance at a ceremony at the fire hall on Wednesday—where he received a Port Coquitlam Fire and Emergency Services badge worn as a necklace. “Every day, we ask firefighters to shoulder an incredible weight. They witness things that most people will never experience in their lives. They comfort families on the worst days of their lives, and they carry those moments for the rest of us,” said Deputy Fire Chief Matthew Stonehouse. “The difficult part is that sometimes it’s really hard to tell when it’s become too heavy. Someone can appear to be doing totally fine on the outside, while quietly on the inside, they’re carrying far more than anyone else realizes, maybe even themselves.” Stonehouse said that’s where Phil comes in. He can recognize when a firefighter may be struggling, and will go spend time with them which has been proven to lower stress response, slow heart rate and decrease blood pressure. Phil came to Port Coquitlam through a partnership with B.C. and Alberta Guide Dogs, and it is the ninth fire department to receive an OSI dog.
