Beloved El Dorado Hills therapy dog nominated in national competition

A popular therapy dog from El Dorado Hills has received a significant nomination for the First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award. Mayzie is competing against 30 other beloved and skilled therapy dogs from around the country. This is an annual contest hosted by FHE Health, a national behavioral health provider. The nationwide contest is a way to showcase therapy dogs and the crucial role they play in aiding in the mental health of first responders. The Folsom Telegraph featured the story of Mayzie and her "mom," handler Adrienne Steurer, last year, and how she was transformed from a sad puppy in the Bradshaw Animal Shelter to a thriving well-trained therapy dog whose mission is to visit first responders at wildfires, in fire stations, veterans organizations, dispatchers, wherever she is needed. Voting for the competition opens to the public on Sept. 3 and continues through Sept. 12 (link to the website for more information on how to vote at end of story). Steurer said she and Mayzie are honored to be recognized with this group of stellar therapy dogs. "The nomination for the FHE First Responder Paws Award means so much to me as a therapy dog handler. We have been nominated with so many other amazing therapy dogs from around the US, and we are honored to be included with them for the chance to win a donation for our organization First Responder Therapy Dogs," said Steurer. "Mayzie and I have put in countless hours of volunteer work in Sacramento County, rural parts of El Dorado County, and spend our summers helping South Lake Tahoe first responders as well. Mayzie definitely deserves this nomination due to her hard work when we are training, her unwavering love for all first responders, and her ability to shine through her own adversity as a rescue dog. She is aMAYZIng." In a statement about the competition, FHE Health said there is a critical need for therapy dogs in communities across the US and the goal is to advocate for as many therapy dogs in first responder organizations as possible: "America's first responders are on the frontlines of danger every day, saving lives and keeping our communities and nation safe. That can take a toll on their mental health. "Therapy dogs help these heroic men and women rebound from emergencies and reset between calls. The calming, healing presence of these dogs enables first responders to process the on-the-job traumas they've experienced and cope better with stress, grief, and anxiety." The winning dog and handler will receive a $4,000 check in support of their work, a gift basket from the online pet retailer Chevy, a feature blog that reaches a huge audience and a $2,500 donation made in their honor to First Responders Pack Foundation, which aims to train more therapy dogs for first responders. To learn more about the competition, see Mayzie and all the other dogs nominated and place a vote, visit https://fherehab.com/first-responder-paws-award.