((PKG))  K9 FIRST RESPONDERS 
((Banner:  Helping the Helpers)) 
((Reporter:  Maxim Moskalkov)) 
((Camera:  Andrey Degtyarev))  
((Adapted by:  Zdenko Novacki)) 
((VOA Russian))  
((Map:  Fairfax, Virginia)) 
 
((NATS)) 
((Matt Giese, First Responders K9))  
First Responders K9 trains and provides service dogs to first 
responders by first responders.  Our motto is, “for first responders 
in the line of service”.  So, mobility issues, PTSD, traumatic brain 
injury and so on, tend to be individuals that can benefit from these 
dogs.  
((NATS)) 
((Chris Sharp, Fairfax Police Department))  
Right now, as we start to focus that training, it’s focused towards 
disability.  So, the dogs being able to open up doors, the dogs 
being able to press the handicapped little sign so the doors will 
open, dogs being able to grab items for the owner.  So, that's a 
focus that the dogs will eventually get near the end of their 
training and that comes into play as the person who is going to 
get the dog is identified and we find out what their disability is.   
((NATS)) 
((Edwin Roessler, Chief, Fairfax County Police))  
It's been a blessing because I am learning not only from my 
trainer Kaitlin and my K9 Indy but everybody else to become a 
more patient human being.  I started to bring Indy into the office 
and be with her 24/7.  People on my floor and in the building, 
where there are other dogs, it has become a happy place and 
people always want to take Indy or the other dogs out for a walk.  
It humanizes us, especially in the community.   
((NATS)) 
((Dustin, Fairfax Police Department))  
Now, she's working a lot with behavioral stuff.  How to say hello to 
people, how to interact in public, in large groups, how to socialize 
with other people and other animals.  There's a certain way that 
they can do it and ultimately, they want to keep it a dog that is 
very well behaved in public.   
((NATS)) 
((Chris Sharp, Fairfax Police Department))  
A lot of people don't realize is that when the police are called, it's 
not because someone is having a very good day.  During any 10-
hour shift or a 12-hour shift, we have to see the worst side of a lot 
of people.  And we have to take what's going on at one moment 
and kind of change our face and go to the next call and pretend 
like the thing that we went into before never happened.  
((NATS))