Photo: Courtesy of Captain Robert Moree and The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
Clementine is a hero who comforts heroes.
At Tri-City Animal Shelter, the hound dog was adopted and returned twice and was still looking for a forever home when Captain Robert Moree of the Cedar Hill Fire Department proposed to his crew and town administration that the department adopt a dog to help firefighters cope with their stressful jobs.
“They immediately offered their full support,” Moree told PEOPLE of the response to his pooch proposal.
“One day, after I responded to a call that was not far from the Tri-City Animal Shelter, I decided to stop in to see what dogs they had available. I knew we wanted to rescue to help bring awareness to adopting from local shelters. I explained that we wanted a dog they were having a harder time placing, preferably one that was older and would easily adjust to the fire station without needing the attention and training a puppy would,” Moree explained.
Courtesy of Captain Robert Moree and The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
Cedar Hill Fire Department’s Fire Station #212 adopted the dog in October 2021, a few hours after Moree first met her. The fire captain said Clementine started bonding with the station’s five-person crew hours after arriving, taking a walk with each firefighter.
“Today, she’s a bit of a celebrity amongst the local fire stations here in southeast Dallas, joining us on calls and trainings and leaving a lasting impact on everyone she meets along the way,” Moree added.
Over the past year, the rescue dog has helped the heroes of Fire Station #212 cope with traumatic calls and stressful shifts around the clock. Clementine lives at the station full time, so she is always on hand to help her coworkers and gets her own play yard.
“As firefighters, we’re typically thought of as the ‘macho guys,’ but the things we experience leave a lasting impact on us, and, at times, it can be hard to share our emotions after responding to some tough situations. Clementine not only makes the station feel more like home during our 24-hour shifts but also offers a positive, constant boost to morale and keeps us excited to come to the station,” Moree said of Clementine’s impact.
“She can easily read the room and sense emotions from the minute our crew walks in after a call, and when she walks up to everyone with her tail wagging and seeking their attention, it’s easy for us to lose ourselves. For the moment when you’re petting or playing with her, those tough situations don’t feel as tough anymore,” he continued.
Clementine’s ability to bond with Fire Station #212’s crew and provide therapeutic support during overwhelming moments earned her the Dog of the Year Award from the2022 ASPCA Humane Awards.
“Our hope is that people see Clementine’s story and are inspired to support animal welfare efforts locally and nationally so that more “underdogs” like Clementine—at-risk animals or animals with special needs or challenges — can find second chances to survive and thrive in safe and loving homes,” Bershadker added.
Moree and the rest of Clementine’s crew are proud of their award-winning pet.
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Clementine is handling the fame that comes with being named “Dog of the Year” well, sticking to her daily routines.
“She loves to ride on the firetruck with us during our calls, sitting on the dashboard howling as the siren goes off, and absolutely loves kids. She provides comfort to those who may have been injured or brought into the fire station to receive care, and, like most dogs, she acts as our extra doorbell, howling before the bell is rung to make sure we’re aware we have visitors. Her favorite role, though, is part-time canine vacuum cleaner, cleaning up delicious scraps from our plates or the floor after our meals,” Moree said.
source: people.com
