Peer Support Facility Dog Joins Howard Co. Fire Department

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Emergency responders face harrowing situations, life or death ordeals, every single day. One way to help them cope is with a peer support facility dog.

Meet Valor, an almost 2-year-old golden and Labrador retriever mix, who is the newest member of the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services.

Subscribe

Valor and his handlers, firefighter Richard High, Jr. and firefighter Peter Huang, completed training hosted by the nonprofit Hero Dogs, Inc. in August 2026. Together, Valor and his handlers will routinely visit with department personnel as a part of day-to-day operations.

Valor also will respond as part of the department's Peer Support Team to provide support to personnel following significant emergencies or traumatic events.

"Behavioral health remains a key priority for our department, and we are committed to investing in resources that promote the health, wellness and resilience of our personnel," said HCDFRS Fire Chief Louis Winston. "Valor is an important component of our ongoing efforts to support firefighter mental health, strengthen access to behavioral health resources and reduce barriers that may prevent personnel from seeking the support they need."

The HCDFRS maintains a Peer Support Team of 35 members, which includes uniformed, volunteer, civilian and retired personnel. The department also employs a full-time behavioral health specialist who is available to support personnel.

"It's been a highlight of my career to see the more vulnerable side that Valor brings out in people," said High, a 21-year veteran of the department. "Valor can't change what our personnel have experienced, but the comfort he can provide during a visit, especially after a tough call or shift, can bring a small sense of relief in that moment."

Valor is the department's latest peer support dog since the passing of the department's previous canine, Tilly, in 2022.