In September 2024, the Omaha Fire Department announced the official addition of Mochi, the new Facility Support Dog, to the Omaha Fire Department family! Mochi, a now five-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever, provides vital emotional and mental health support to Omaha's dedicated firefighters.

Mochi spent the first 8 weeks under the care of veterinary staff and volunteers. At 8 weeks old, he was placed with a family for 12 months of puppy raising, where he underwent individual and group obedience training aimed at making him a suitable working dog and canine good citizen. Following his puppy raising, Mochi spent 14 months in intensive training, where he was trained by certified dog trainers. He came to Omaha with thousands of hours of training and is certified under Assistance Dogs International (ADI), the highest level of training a facility dog can obtain.

We are excited that Mochi loves his role in alleviating stress and fostering a calming atmosphere at our fire stations. Mochi is actively involved in community events through our Public Education office, enhancing public interactions and supporting educational outreach initiatives.

Firefighter Josh Fry, who has been with our department for eight years and serves in our Public Education Office, is Mochi’s handler. His dedication and experience make him the perfect choice to oversee this important program.

A heartfelt thank you to Guide Dogs of America for their incredible support in providing Mochi, and to the First Responders Foundation for covering ongoing care costs with their generous donations and fundraising efforts. And thank YOU for supporting Mochi! We also extend our gratitude to 1-800-BoardUp of Omaha Metro Area for their donation of veterinary and insurance costs, K9cuisine.com for their donation of high-quality food and treats for Mochi, and to Mike and Mary Villanueva for their support in launching this program.

Mochi received his official OFD badge from Chief Bossman in September 2024 and we are all very excited to have Mochi on the Omaha team!

Meet Mochi - the Omaha Fire Dog!

By First Responders Foundation

Meet Mochi - the Omaha Fire Dog!

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