![\"Minnie,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/calgary_herald_articles_312\/7b93b09f09bf8f49338adfb57f9a37bb.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\nThe Calgary Emergency Management Agency has a new support tool at its disposal \u2014 but this one arrived on four legs and with a wagging tail.<\/p>\n
Minnie, a golden Labrador retriever, is joining CEMA after spending the past two years undergoing training to offer emotional support during challenging situations.<\/p>\n
“Minnie may be cute, but when she puts on her vest she has an incredibly important role to play,” said CEMA Chief Sue Henry. “As CEMA’s first facility dog, her role is to support people during high-stress or emotionally charged situations.”<\/p>\n
The Labrador was chosen at three days old to start training for work opportunities such as this. She has been trained to hug, comfort and lower stress levels of emergency management employees.<\/p>\n
Minnie will work at the facility and be deployed into the field when required.<\/p>\n
“When emergencies and disasters happen, people are often dealing with uncertainty, with fear, with stress and with loss,” said Henry. “Supporting emotional well-being during these times is an extremely important part of the emergency response.<\/p>\n
“That is where Minnie comes in.”<\/p>\n
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Minnie, the Calgary Emergency Management Agency\u2019s new facility dog, poses at the Emergency Operations Centre on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. Minnie will work helping support people during emergencies.<\/p>\n
The introduction of a facility dog for CEMA has been in the works for a while, as the agency had previously relied on other agencies to provide support animals after emergencies and disasters.<\/p>\n
![\"Minnie,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/calgary_herald_articles_312\/0029fefd55c6b6df322cdad5ae8ff6eb.jpeg\"\/)
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