Therapy Dog Kooper Saves Lives at Iowa Fire Department

Kooper failed service dog training because he was too relaxed. That same calm demeanor now helps save the lives of firefighters facing one of the most dangerous parts of their job: the emotional aftermath.

The 3½-year-old certified therapy dog has joined Sioux City Fire Rescue in Iowa, traveling between fire stations to provide emotional support to firefighters and EMS personnel after tough calls. His presence gives first responders a quiet moment to decompress and process what they've experienced.

The need is urgent. Sioux City Fire Rescue responded to nearly 12,000 calls in 2025 alone, including fatal car accidents, structure fires, and medical emergencies. As Iowa's fourth-largest fire department, the mental toll on personnel adds up quickly.

"You keep a lot of them in the back of your mind. Many calls stay with you through the years," said Mary Chwirka, Kooper's handler and the department's EMS Compliance Officer. She's witnessed firsthand how trauma accumulates among her colleagues.

Firefighter and paramedic Nathan Sturgeon explained that everyone processes stress differently. "Kooper's another tool for us to help debrief from those," he said. The dog offers what traditional debriefing sometimes can't: unconditional comfort without words.

The Ripple Effect

Kooper's impact extends far beyond Sioux City's fire stations. He visits hospitals, libraries, peer support gatherings, and community events throughout the city. His training around sirens, helicopters, and loud environments makes him uniquely suited for emergency service work.

The program addresses a growing crisis. Suicide rates among first responders have been rising, a troubling trend that departments nationwide are working to reverse. Mental health support that once felt optional now saves lives.

Chwirka, who has been with Kooper since he was 5½ months old, has watched the program's success multiply. She now serves as a regional coordinator for therapy dogs supporting first responders across six Midwest states, helping other departments implement similar programs.

Firefighters say having a dog around naturally helps people relax and open up after stressful situations. There's something about Kooper's calm presence that makes it easier to acknowledge difficult feelings and begin processing them.

What made Kooper "too chill" for PTSD veteran service work turned out to be exactly what overwhelmed first responders needed. Sometimes the perfect fit comes from an unexpected place, and this four-legged recruit is proof that helping heroes doesn't always require running into burning buildings.