APPLETON (NBC 26) -- Gold Cross Ambulance is excited to welcome a new four-legged team member to the crew. Meet Patton, the soon to be three-year-old Labrador Retriever, who will make a positive impact among first responders.
Patton trained with the Journey Together Service Dog, Inc. out of Oshkosh for about 2.5 years to learn how to comfort and offer distraction to someone experiencing stress. Gold Cross Ambulance serves more than 280,000 people and responds to more than 21,000 calls each year. First responders never know what situation they will be in and what emotional toll it will have. Team members with Gold Cross say adding Patton to the team was a way to help cope with some of tough calls the EMT's, paramedics, officers, and other first responders experience.
Patton is described as spunky and loving and loves to learn new tricks! Gold Cross even has a collectible card of him with fun facts about him. He is great at offering emotional support, but can also help with closing drawers and picking up items if someone drops them or based on the person's needs or disabilities.
