Meet Fae, the four-legged support behind Redlands firefighters

Each year, the Redlands Fire Department responds to more than 11,600 calls for service. When the bell goes off, firefighters have no way of knowing what will be waiting on the other end — a medical emergency, a structure fire, a traffic collision or a crisis unfolding in real time.

And after a difficult call or a long shift, Redlands firefighters now have a new tool to help process the stress that comes with the job.

Her name is Fae.

Fae the fire dog joined the Redlands Fire Department in 2024. Friendly, huggable and endlessly patient, she may look like a typical black Labrador, but she is a trained support dog with an important role: helping firefighters decompress after stressful or traumatic calls.

“It’s just the nature of the beast,” Fire Capt. Dustin Whitaker said, describing the stress firefighters face on the job.

Whitaker recalled a recent structure fire in which a woman was severely burned as her family stood nearby, distraught.

“We have a job to do one hundred percent, and you lock in and do it,” Whitaker said. “But afterwards, the empathy is overwhelming.”

Returning to the fire station and being greeted by Fae has helped firefighters process those moments, he said.

Even on days without major emergencies, the pace of the work can take a toll.

“The day gets away from you,” Whitaker said. “You walk in, you see Fae, you get on your knees, she jumps on your lap. It’s just a little cortisol release, day in and day out, and it’s been extremely beneficial.”

How the program started

The program was launched with the help of Redlands fire engineer Jeff Arrowood, who helped coordinate Fae’s placement and advocated for a department-wide approach rather than assigning the dog to a single handler. Whitaker said Arrowood wanted the greatest number of firefighters to interact with Fae regularly, which is why she lives full time at Fire Station 261 in downtown Redlands.

Fae was originally trained through Guide Dogs of the Desert, where she was being prepared as a guide dog for people with visual impairments. Despite excelling in most areas of training, she proved to be too friendly for that role.

“She just wanted to pet everybody and love everybody,” Whitaker said. “And when you can’t see, if your dog tugs you to go pet someone, it becomes an issue.”

Instead of ending her training journey, Fae found a new calling. She was matched with the Redlands Fire Department with the help of trainer Coby Webb of Webb's K9 Trainers in Cherry Valley, a retired sheriff’s officer who specializes in training support dogs for first responders and people with disabilities.

Fae underwent extensive training and continues with daily reinforcement. Firefighters who handle her participate in regular sessions to ensure she remains focused and understands when she is “working” and when she is off duty.

“She has different collars and vests that tell her when she’s on the job,” Whitaker said. “A lot of the time, she’s just around the station like a family dog.”

Even when she is off duty, Whitaker said Fae is trained to notice changes in behavior and stress levels and respond accordingly.

Everyone’s dog

Unlike programs where a therapy dog is assigned to a single handler, Fae lives full time at Fire Station 261 and is cared for collectively by the department.

The department chose a shared-handler model intentionally, ensuring that Fae is accessible to as many firefighters as possible. Whitaker said that by stationing her downtown, nearly half of the department’s firefighters interact with her regularly across different shifts.

“She’s everybody’s dog,” he said.

Firefighters take turns walking her, feeding her and maintaining her training routine. The department has also been careful about her health, including maintaining a strict diet.

“If 54 of us slipped her a chip, she’d be obese,” Whitaker said with a laugh.

Fae is cared for through partnerships with local veterinarians and Tom & Hound. 

A welcome response

The response from firefighters has been overwhelmingly positive. Crews from other stations have already asked whether the program could expand.

“She’s a game changer,” Whitaker said.

Fae also regularly joins firefighters at community events, station tours and neighborhood walks. While she does not respond to emergency calls with lights and sirens, she is frequently transported — safely secured — to public events when crews are available.

For now, Fae’s job is simple but meaningful: be present.

“You don’t have to talk,” Whitaker said. “You don’t have to explain anything. You can just sit there and pet her — and somehow, it makes your life better.”

And if you see Fae out on a walk or at a community event, firefighters encourage residents to stop and say hello. She loves to be pet.