PANAMA CITY — Lucy, a pocket bully serving with the Panama City Fire Department, is a contestant for the First Responder Therapy Dog Award.
The city is hoping residents will vote for Lucy before Dec. 4, so she can place among the top 10 finalists.
Lucy joined members of the media at the Panama City Central Fire Station on Wednesday morning with her handler, Amanda Scoggin. Scoggin is a driver and engineer for the PCFD who usually works out of Panama City Fire Station 2 on Beck Avenue.
Scoggin said Lucy is the only fire department therapy dog in northwest Florida. Despite her prestigious position, Lucy came from humble beginnings.
Lucy originally belonged to a breeder who was going to get rid of her because she couldn’t have puppies anymore, Scoggin said. When she met Lucy, she knew she was destined for greater things and adopted her.
Scoggin was introduced to fire department therapy dogs while on a deployment to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. When she saw the impact that therapy dogs had on the firefighters there, she saw to it that Lucy could get all the training she needed to bring that capability to Panama City.
“I talked to every handler that would talk to me and got as much advice as I could get. I was looking for dog trainers on the way home from that deployment,” Scoggin said. “As soon as we got back we started training, going to obedience schools, getting that therapy certification and then we sought the state certification for crisis response so we could then deploy and try to offer the same services that we were impacted by.”
On top of providing support to other firefighters, Lucy helped Scoggin through tough times in her life. Scoggin said Lucy helped her through some low points between COVID-19 and injuries from a bicycle accident.
“We’ve gone from not being able to provide this service, to providing this service, and now being nominated for an award,” Scoggin said. “I’m incredibly proud of her, she’s come a long way, and I’ve come a long way. It’s just been a great journey together.”
Scoggin sometimes meets with other therapy-dog handlers in Panama City, and together their canines make their rounds in hospitals, nursing homes, elementary schools and the Clifford Chester Sims State Veterans Nursing Home.
On top of her local impact, Scoggin said Lucy has the potential to make a statewide impact in times of crisis. Lucy is considered a state asset, similar to the department’s response teams that deploy during hurricanes. She previously deployed to Punta Gorda after Hurricane Helene, where she provided mental health support to first responders in the aftermath of the storm.
“Unfortunately, first responders have quickly risen to almost the same level as military as far as PTSD and suicide is concerned, so this is a big issue with us,” Scoggin said.
Scoggin talked about the PCFD’s partnership with the Second Alarm Project, which is a nonprofit that focuses on the mental health and wellness of first responders.
She said between the organization and various studies, they have found therapy dogs to make a positive impact on first responders’ wellbeing. Scoggin added that petting a dog releases endorphins and reduces stress, which she thinks could improve firefighters’ mental health.
With everything that Lucy can provide, Scoggin hopes residents cast their vote. If Lucy wins, she will get a basket of treats from Chewy, a monetary donation that will help with vet bills and training, and the competition organizers will donate to the First Responders Pack Foundation.
To vote for Lucy, go to the first responder paws award section on FHE Health’s website. Voters will need to scroll down until they see Lucy and enter their email in the form to place their vote.
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