Meet Mabel, a glorious fudge-brown cockapoo (cocker spaniel and poodle cross) who works as an emotional support dog in the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire Service.

Mabel is interesting on two levels: first, for the role she's in currently, as the first emotional support dog in this fire service. Three of the UK's 17 fire investigation search dogs are also in Hampshire (we featured Louis the fire dog in 2022). So it's a regional fire service with a lot of knowhow around working dogs.

Secondly, she's also pilot testing how emotional support dogs could be deployed within this traditional and hierarchical emergency service. We've heard of emotional support dogs in other regions' fire services such as Avon and Scotland, but not too many.

Mabel's owner is the Chief Fire Officer, Neil Odin, who combines a strategic overview of the organisation as a whole with a thorough understanding of working dogs. He describes the difference Mabel makes to his working life to Dogs with Jobs presenter Kate Fairweather and explains how he thinks emotional support dogs could be integrated into a modern Fire Service.

You can find more information on Mabel, photos etc on the episode webpage shineradio.uk/dogswithjobs.

Similar or connected episodes

Hear about police emotional support dog, Keo, through the police wellbeing charity OK9

Browse Dogs with Jobs for more dogs with interesting jobs!

Do you work your dog or dogs?

If you would be interested in coming on the show, please get in touch with Kate at team@shineradio.uk or call 10730 555 500.  Kate is particularly keen to interview a sniffer dog! 

© & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2023