A six-month-old puppy rescued from a large neglect case in Ellis County found a new home and a new job with the Mansfield Fire Department. Now known as Lieutenant Lieu, the Labrador Retriever-Great Pyrenees mix is now officially a resident at Mansfield Fire Station 1. Firefighters say he was an i nstant fit with the team. “He’s made an impact, and he’s here to stay,” Assistant Fire Chief Noel Saldivar said. Lou was one of 75 dogs rescued from what officials described as inhumane living conditions in Ellis County. The rescue effort involved Ferris Animal Services, Flying B Animal Rescue Sanctuary, American Humane Society, and other animal welfare partners. Department leadership got the idea for a station dog after attending a fire service conference. “We ran across a booth where they were discussing animals in the fire station, specifically for the mental health of firefighters,” Michael Ross, Mansfield Fire chief, said. “We thought that could be a great idea for the City of Mansfield.” Not long after returning from the conference, fate struck. Saldivar said he ran into someone from animal control and told them about their plan. The next morning, they had pictures of the pup that would become Lieutenant Lieu in their inbox. “So I went to the chief’s office, and said, ‘ Hey, I don’t know what you’re working on,” Saldivar said, “We might have a great candidate for our new firehouse dog.” He said Lieu was brought to the station for what was supposed to be a trial visit, and by the end of the day, crews didn’t want him to leave. Lou now lives full-time at the station and has even been assigned an ID number in the department’s system: Firefighter 5294. Department leaders say the dog serves a larger purpose than just boosting morale. “Mental health and wellness has been a hot topic for the last 10-plus years,” Saldivar said. “I know from experience the impact a dog can have, lowering stress levels and bringing calm to rough situations.” Lieu now travels between Mansfield’s five fire stations and has even visited other city departments, including the city manager’s office and finance department. Department leaders hope Lou’s story inspires other agencies to consider similar programs. “I would personally love to see the firehouse dog make a comeback,” Saldivar said. “I think they have a definite role in mental health and wellness for firefighters.” ...read more read less