A furry friend has joined the Cape Coral Fire Department as part of a new mental health initiative involving therapy canines.

Semi, a certified therapy dog through the American Kennel Club, was donated to the CCFD in partnership with K9s for Warriors as a part of a growing mental health initiative focused on emotional wellness and fostering a healthy and safe work environment.

The nonprofit is the nation’s largest provider of trained service dogs for military veterans and public safety personnel dealing with PTSD, traumatic brain injuries and other trauma-related conditions.

They also provide dogs to public safety departments for use in peer support, critical incident stress management, community outreach and more.

All dogs in the program are rescues and are offered at no cost to the individual or department.

Therapy dogs have been proven to reduce stress, lower anxiety and improve overall emotional wellbeing in workplace and community settings.

Their presence offers comfort and support during high-stress moments, helps create a calming environment and fosters positive social interactions.

Semi will provide comfort and care to firefighters, dispatchers, administrative staff and others.

His primary function will be to identify stress in individuals and help reduce it, but he will also visit senior living facilities, schools and other community events.