SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — After long hours battling wildfires, firefighters sometimes return to camp with soot-covered hands, exhausted bodies and little time to recover before their next shift. For many crews in the Lake Tahoe region, one welcome sight offers a moment of relief: Mayzie, a calm, black-furred rescue dog wearing a red therapy vest.
The eight-year-old dog has made more than 230 visits to first responders across Northern California and Nevada, comforting more than 3,000 people. Her work has earned her a nomination for the 2026 First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award, a national contest recognizing therapy dogs that support emergency personnel.
Public voting runs through Monday, Oct. 19. Residents can support the South Lake Tahoe-area nominee through the official First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award voting page.
“It’s super important what she does,” said Adrienne Steurer, Mayzie’s handler. “Because she doesn’t ask questions about how you’re feeling. She just shows up, and she just offers comfort.”
A familiar face at Lake Tahoe emergency stations
Mayzie visits several agencies serving the Lake Tahoe region, including the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District, Lake Valley Fire, Cal Tahoe EMS and South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue.
She also visits fire camps, where crews may spend weeks away from home while responding to major incidents.
Rather than demanding attention, Mayzie waits patiently for first responders to approach her. When someone begins petting her, she leans into the person and makes her preference for continued affection unmistakable.
“Most of them will say, ‘this is the best part of my day,’” Steurer said.
Steurer said she can feel the atmosphere change when Mayzie enters a station.
“We just come in,” she said, “and you can feel the stress level drop.”
The visits provide an opportunity for firefighters, law enforcement officers and emergency medical personnel to pause amid demanding work. Mayzie’s presence offers companionship without requiring anyone to explain what they have experienced.
From a Sacramento shelter to a life of service
Mayzie’s work is especially remarkable given her early struggles.
She was abandoned at a Sacramento animal shelter when she was about a year old. After undergoing spay surgery, she developed aspiration pneumonia and became dangerously ill. According to Steurer, Mayzie spent weeks coughing, struggling to catch her breath and receiving intravenous fluids.
“She almost didn’t make it,” Steurer said.
Mayzie recovered and eventually began training for therapy work. Her first training visit with Steurer was at the Caldor Fire Base Camp in 2021, according to the award organizers’ official profile of the 2026 contestants.
Steurer, a former emergency medical technician, has helped Mayzie develop the skills needed to work around busy public safety environments.
Mayzie holds a first responder therapy dog certification and six American Kennel Club titles. Three recognize behavior and obedience, while three recognize achievements in therapy dog work.
Her training includes maintaining composure in an elevator and remaining calm and focused in public places, including outdoor restaurants and pet-friendly stores.
After years of visiting the South Lake Tahoe area on summer camping trips, Mayzie and her family recently made the region their permanent home. She now regularly visits emergency service agencies in the community.
A national award with local significance
The First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award, organized by FHE Health, recognizes dogs that help first responders manage the emotional demands of their work.
According to the official award website, the 2026 contest features 23 therapy dog contestants. Public voting determines the 10 finalists, after which a selection committee chooses the winner.
The 2026 award winner will receive $4,000 to support the dog’s work, a gift basket from Chewy and national publicity. FHE Health also plans to donate $1,000 in the winner’s honor to the First Responders Pack Foundation, which trains additional therapy dogs for emergency personnel.
The schedule calls for the top 10 finalists to be announced Monday, Nov. 2, with the winner announced Friday, Nov. 13. Contest dates are subject to change.
For the Lake Tahoe region, Mayzie’s nomination also highlights the people and animals working behind the scenes to support the mental well-being of those who respond to fires, medical emergencies and other crises.
Mayzie’s story is not simply one of survival. It is a story of a rescue dog whose second chance has become a source of comfort for thousands of people.
How to vote for Mayzie
Residents of El Dorado County and the surrounding Lake Tahoe region can vote for Mayzie in the national First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award contest.
- Voting deadline: Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time.
- How to vote: Visit the official award website, locate Mayzie among the contestants and complete the voting form.
- Voting limit: One vote per person. An email address is required for verification, according to the contest rules.
- Finalists announced: Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
- Winner announced: Friday, Nov. 13, 2026.
Mayzie cannot put out a fire or respond to a medical emergency. But when first responders need a moment of comfort after difficult shifts, she has found her own way to serve the community — one visit, one wagging tail and one reassuring nudge at a time.
