Firefighters help train guide dogs for the blind
‘These gifted and intelligent animals provide a great service to members of our communities’ says fire chief 
–Firefighters with the Atascadero Department of Fire and Emergency Services are used to giving station tours to public officials, school children, preschool groups and members of the community wishing to learn more about the fire and emergency services we provide or fire safety in general, but on Wednesday, April 6, at Atascadero City Fire Station #1, located at 6005 Lewis Avenue, from 3:30 to 5 p.m., firefighters will be giving a tour to nonprofit PAWS 4 Sight scheduled to help familiarize 5 dogs between 6 and 16 months of age to the strange and sometimes loud sounds of the fire service.
PAWS 4 Sight helps raise guide dogs for the blind, “Our dogs will be tasked with helping disabled individuals and the dogs need to be familiar with loud noises and different environments and be comfortable with strange and out of the ordinary situations that may face their handlers,” said PAWS 4 Sight representative Susan King. “I cannot think of a scarier situation then being faced with any kind of fire, but when firefighters and other emergency service workers arrive, it is important that our dogs behave appropriately. That is why I came up with the fire station tour idea,” said King. “We will be able to have our puppies and adult dogs see the firefighters in action, in a more controlled situation, which will help them be more relaxed, in case of a real emergency.”
Firefighters will assist PAWS 4 Sight by giving their puppies and adult dogs experiences which are part of the normal/everyday life of a firefighter and the daily routine in the fire station, but which will help the animals become accustomed to these new and strange surroundings.
“Our personnel have really been looking forward to the opportunity of helping PAWS 4 Sight with such an important program,” said Fire Chief Kurt Stone. “These gifted and intelligent animals provide a great service to members of our communities with disabilities and we are honored to assist them with such a great service.”
