Latest news with #GilmerCountyFireRescue
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Riggs the dog: From rescued dog to dog to the rescue
The Brief Gilmer County Fire Rescue will soon have a new therapy dog that lost its owner in a fire in January. The department named him Lt. Riggs. He's currently undergoing obedience training, and they hope to have him out in the community in about six months. The goal is for Riggs to support both firefighters and community members. GILMER COUNTY, Ga. - Gilmer County Fire Rescue responded to a fire in January where the owner didn't survive. That's when firefighters learned several dogs lived in a shed out back, including Riggs. The backstory When the family couldn't take Riggs, the fire department knew they couldn't let him go. Firefighters say they want him to help others in the community the same way he helped them, which is why they decided to train him to be a therapy dog. The non-profit Friends of Gilmer County Animal Shelter arranged his medical care and connected them with a trainer. Once his training is complete, Riggs will be based out of Station 1 in Gilmer County, ready to respond wherever he's needed. What they're saying "Despite all the chaos that was going on at this fire, Riggs remained calm, brave, and courageous," Sgt. Katherine Evans with Gilmer County Fire Rescue said, recalling the moment they both met Riggs at a fire. "He was more concerned about just keeping us company. He was kind of like the light at the end of the tunnel at the end of the fire," she added. A light Evans said was needed on a difficult call. "That was hard for our department; that was hard for the people that found the body, recovered it, transported it, and hard for the firefighters to put that fire out knowing that, you know, had we gotten there a few minutes sooner or had we gotten the call a few minutes sooner, you know, the whole story could have changed," Evans explained. "My house burned down three years ago, and so I know what that's like and how much it would have helped—well, it did help me, my dogs—but it would have helped me to have a dog that was trained as a service dog," Sharon Callan, a trainer with Paws Be Good 4 U, said. Callan is currently training Riggs. The Source FOX 5's Kim Leoffler spoke with Sgt. Katherine Evans with Gilmer County Fire Rescue for this article.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Dog rescued from burned home given new life as fire dept. mascot after owner dies in GA fire
A dog that was orphaned when his owner died in a house fire has found a new lease on life thanks to some compassionate Gilmer County animal lovers. On January 24, Gilmer County Fire Rescue crews responded to a house fire. When they arrived, the home was engulfed in flames. While they worked to extinguish the fire, a small dog wandered through the scene. Despite the chaos of the fire, the dog stayed close to the responders. As firefighters stepped away for brief moments of rest, he would trot up to them and sit beside them silently. Hours later when the fire was extinguished, firefighters learned the homeowner died during the blaze. Two days later a Gilmer County Fire Rescue Chief returned to the scene to assess the damage and check on the surviving animals. As he arrived at the burned home, he saw a familiar face come running up, the same small dog. The chief discovered several dogs living on the property in a shed in the back. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] With no family immediately available to take him in, firefighters stepped up. The dog was taken back to Station 1. At first, he was hesitant to settle into his new environment. He was given the name Riggs and was taken to Friends of Gilmer Animal Shelter (a Gilmer County animal charity) for medical treatment. Riggs was neutered, vaccinated, and treated for fleas and ticks. Sharon Callan, a dog trainer at Paws Be Good 4 U and founder of Shelter Dogs for Veterans, donated her time to train Lt. Riggs. Gilmer County citizens donated a welded outdoor kennel, a sturdy igloo doghouse, and provided a subscription to Chewy for boxes filled with toys and treats. Lt. Riggs will be the first therapy dog for the fire department. He will help comfort first responders and victims in moments of crisis. TRENDING STORIES: Severe storms cause damage across metro Atlanta Cobb police mourning the loss of one of their own after fatal accident Mother of teen accused of shooting MARTA bus driver over $2.50 speaks out [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
