
There’s enough bad news. How about a story on a dog in Campbell County that started a new job as a Critical Incident Stress Management K-9 to brighten the day?
Billie, a trained Labrador Retriever, had her first day on the job with Campbell County Public Safety on Jan. 13.
Her duties: supporting the mental health and well-being of first responders in a region that includes Appomattox, Amherst, Bedford, Campbell and the City of Lynchburg.
The Hero Academy, a Fredericksburg-based nonprofit, trained Billie, who will work alongside Michelle Turner, the deputy director of Campbell County Public Safety.
“We are incredibly grateful to The Hero Academy for entrusting us with Billie,” said Mary Kathryn Allen, regional director of the Blue Ridge EMS Council.
Needless to say, Billie is a good girl, and she’s only going to be a better girl with training that she and Turner will begin on Monday at The Hero Academy to enhance her ability to assist first responders in their most challenging moments.
“She will be an invaluable resource in providing emotional support to our first responders, who face high-stress situations daily,” Allen said. “Having Billie as part of our CISM team underscores our commitment to prioritizing the mental health of our emergency personnel.”