On June 25, 2021, there was a Firehouse Project celebration at the dog training campus of Performance K9 Training. The Firehouse Project is a partnership between Thor’s Hope Foundation and Performance K9 Training.
As first responders, firefighters see things they can’t unsee. After learning about the occupational stresses these men and women face every day, we knew we had to do something. It was our call to action.
In 2019, we placed our first firehouse dog, Clifford, with Vista Fire Chief Ned Vanderpol. In 2020, we gifted Milo to Los Angeles Fire Captain Scott Ross.
June 25, 2021, marks the third dog we placed, and this is to Fire Captain Ruben Esparza. New to their lineup at the Modesto Fire Department is Hudson, a one-and-a-half-year-old Golden Retriever.
These facility dogs are donated by Thor’s Hope Foundation and trained by Performance K9 Training. It’s important to note that these are not therapy dogs; they are facility dogs.
Like Clifford and Milo, Hudson has undergone thousands of hours of training. The skills taught are top-notch obedience skills under distraction. These dogs maintain a calm demeanor in all situations and are polite to everyone they meet.
Most of all, they provide support and comfort to our firefighters when they need it most.
On average, facility dog training takes about a year. The cost for a dog is $10,000, and Thor’s Hope Foundation gives these special dogs to help those in the front lines.
