First Responder Therapy Dogs Kickstarter

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2023Oct 6

First Responder Therapy Dogs Kickstarter Campaign https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/... First Responders, including firefighters, paramedics, EMS, law enforcement, dispatchers and search and rescue personnel, answer the call to serve and protect. Their jobs are physically, emotionally, and mentally challenging. First Responders experience extreme stress, PTSD, depression, and sadly suicidal impulses. Unfortunately there is still a stigma attached to asking for help. Treatment tools such as time-off and debriefings provide some support but more is needed. Hi I’m Heidi Carman, founder of First Responder Therapy Dogs where we provide an extremely effective and well received mental health tool for first responders, by providing emotional support from trained therapy dogs—without the stigma. Our grass root growth through word of mouth and proven success has been awesome. And now we have an incredible opportunity to reach over 75 million people and expand our program across all 50 states We are working together with a television producer who is creating a national television series, which is an informative, entertaining and compelling televised fundraising event. We need your help to produce this televised event. Just like conventional crowdfunding, we are offering unique incentives, which include items like a custom created First Responder Therapy Dogs Challenge Coin, which is being exclusively designed and minted for us. We have on-screen acknowledgements in the TV broadcast, thanking businesses and people like you in the rolling credits for making the show possible. There will be tables at the televised gala for you and your guests to attend and express your support on camera. We have a lot of other great rewards and for businesses; we have a rare national brand awareness opportunity for your company to be written into the show. I am reaching out to you, so we can produce this television episode, which will help us educate, inform and remove the stigma, while helping us expand our First Responder Therapy Dog program into all 50 states. Please help us produce this nationally televised episode of Art Adventures and educate our entire country about what our first responders go through. Thank you for your support and here is Taylor to give you a sneak peak at Art Adventures… Video #2 - My Foundation What are we bringing to the first responder population, a new tool to help address the mental health needs of First Responders by providing emotional support using therapy dogs while bringing awareness to the stigma of mental health issues First Responders face. First Responder Therapy Dogs offers a simple, effective, and free service as a tool for improving mental health. Trained teams (handler and dog) go into the field and visit on-duty First Responders. Therapy dogs have a calming effect. Their presence helps reduce blood pressure and stress while improving moods, allowing First Responders improved focus on the communities they serve while also receiving care for themselves. Research demonstrates that therapy dog services positively impact this communities' mental health challenges. First Responder organizations rely on therapy dog services but do not fund them. We provide services in 27 states, yet the need for therapy dogs is much greater. Funds are needed to cultivate even more certified therapy dog teams to help more First Responders nationwide. Our ultimate goal is to have therapy dog teams in every state across the country so we can reach all the first responders. An estimated 4.6 million people serve as career and volunteer First Responders in the United States. Compared to the general population, First Responders experience higher rates of depression, PTSD, burnout, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Studies show that interacting with animals can improve coping and recovery, enhance morale, decrease stress, and reduce the effects of PTSD and emotional distress. Research shows that the presence of therapy animals can lower blood pressure, decrease anxiety, improve mood, and foster feelings of support and confidence in humans. Therapy dogs can help people stay present in the moment while better managing and responding to their emotions with resilience.