DRIPPING SPRINGS — The North Hays County Fire Rescue often spends its days saving lives and putting out fires, but, recently, it has also opened its doors to a new addition: Nyx, the facility dog.
According to Jeanine Southall, community outreach specialist, the idea of a facility dog at the fire department has been in the works for years. So, when the fire marshal and chief approached Freedom Canines, who told the pair that they had the perfect dog in October 2024, the opportunity couldn’t be passed up.
Nyx, a 3-year-old black lab, had recently “failed” the school for guide dogs, on account of being too friendly and distracted. Coincidentally, said Southall, that made her perfect for the department. This, along with Southall’s immediate connection, signed Nyx onto the job.
“When she came to the station for the first time, I was actually there and met with her and this was before it was even an option that I would be the handler at that point because she was just coming [visiting],” recalled Southall. “When I agreed to [be her handler] later, and this was a couple of months later, I was like, ‘Wait a second, we are talking about the little black dog right?’ Because she’s so sweet.”
Initially the fire marshal was going to handle the dog, but his son was allergic, so Southall, new to the job, agreed to the position.
Following this new agreement, Nyx continued her training, along with Southall, at Freedom Canines to begin her journey.
Freedom Canines is a nonprofit in Wimberley that specializes in mobility, hearing, diabetic alert and facility dogs, providing them at no cost, according to its website. Here, she learned basic guide dog manners and is learning when she is at work and when she is not, as to differ when she can be a normal pup, who pulls and runs up to people, versus when she needs to be calm and listen to commands.
Throughout the past six months, Southall explained that both are still navigating their new partnerships.
Nyx is not only a representative of the department to attend community events, but she has also been a key factor in educating students in her past few months at the department. The community outreach specialist stated that she is currently learning stop, drop and roll to demonstrate fire safety to students.
“When we’re teaching small kids, it kind of helps keep their attention and break up the message that we’re trying to teach, to have her there as part of our presentation,” said Southall.
Students also learn about dog safety when interacting with Nyx: “For the Dripping Springs Elementary School, their field day, we set up a little obstacle course and Nyx was there at the end, so they each got to pet her. So, that part of the education was, ‘Hey, this is how you greet a dog. You don’t just walk up to them, don’t just reach out. This is how you pet them.’ Things like that,” she explained.
Southall explained that although Nyx is a facility dog, she is not certified as a guide, service or therapy dog. Despite this, she explained that the dog provides tremendous relief for those she visits at the stations, something the pair hope to do on an official level in the future through peer support training.
“I feel like she’s an important addition because she’s just such a good dog and everybody loves her. I feel like just the more our community knows that we’re here [and we] can help you: What can we help teach you about? What are you looking for? And in the schools, she just helps us seal the deal … because she puts a smile on everybody’s face,” concluded Southall.
To keep up with North Hays County Fire Rescue and Nyx, visit www.facebook.com/NorthHaysFire.
