EMSA Adopts Puppy To Help With Stressful Hours For Workers

Meet Charlie, EMSA's 6-month-old Aussiedoodle! He lives at EMSA, in the logistics and materials room where he gets 24-7 care. This pup is here specifically for first responders to cuddle and snuggle with after long, tough, shifts.

Tuesday, October 26th 2021, 2:57 pm

By: Sawyer Buccy

TULSA, Oklahoma -

Tulsa EMSA Paramedics now have a comfort animal with them at the station 24/7.

Charlie is an adorable Aussiedoodle. Paramedics say Charlie is doing Something Good for first responders in the midst of a couple of very challenging years. The logistics and materials Room at EMSA's office in Tulsa is open 24-7-- the work here never stops.

"We stock and supply the trucks with everything they need," said Tammy Corley with EMSA.

In the midst of all that needs to be done.....is Charlie, A 6-month-Old Aussiedoodle.

"He is just cuddly and sweet, and everybody loves him. I haven't seen anybody not be happy that he is here," said Corley.

This is Charlie's new home.

"From 4 in the morning to 8 in the morning he is up and active, he is interacting with every person who comes in the door. They are giving him belly rubs, they are throwing his toy- he is super happy....He sleeps a lot, a lot," said Corley.

Charlie is EMSA's new support dog. He is here solely for the crews to love on.

"Our crews are running back-to-back for 12 plus hours a day, they are sitting at the hospitals for hours on end waiting on patients to be able to get into the hospital. That creates a lot of stress. Especially when we are a year and a half into a pandemic, and it has been nonstop - it is good for them to be able to come in and just be able to get on the floor with the dog," said Jacob Harrington with EMSA.

Jacob Harrington's mother donated Charlie to EMSA, and his impact was felt by the end of his very first shift.

"People who usually come in the end of shift who are really grumpy and cranky are like, 'Oh my gosh! he is so sweet!' And then just turn into mush because they are loving on the puppy," said Corley.

Charlie was donated but the money it takes to keep him fed, trained and healthy, is coming out of a piece of EMSA's budget that helps them care for their crews.

Charlie doesn't know anything about the pandemic, long shifts, crazy hours, or traumatic scenes- he knows love, and comfort... and that is more than enough for everyone here.