We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Karla Jacobs a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Karla, thanks for joining us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.
After 22 years being a 911 Dispatcher, I had to seek out peer support. The years of stuffing into my “backpack” calls that I took, runs that I dispatched, and life in general was overflowing. With the advice of a now retired Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper, I attended a 3 day seminar in North Carolina that helps First Responders unload that backpack. I decided once I had myself healed, I wanted to give back in the same way to those struggling. I then took the necessary steps to become a peer on the Critical Incident Stress Management team that my county has for First Responders. I also wanted to be able to be a peer with Ohio Assist which is the same type of seminar that I attended in North Carolina.
It was shortly after that I was given an opportunity to have a dog that would be used for the peer support team, as well as visiting First Responders at their stations. I was hesitant at first because I had just put my dog down 6 months prior to this, and the dog that the prior Delaware County Administrator Mike Frommer had in mind was a 4 month old puppy. I also knew the time commitment it was going to take, I was busy enough, and I didn’t really want to take on that project. Come Sit and Stay Kennel in Union County rescued her from a bad breeding situation in Kentucky, had been working with her, and thought she had a great temperament. Several people wanted me to go meet her, I knew what would happen if I did, but I did. I sat on the floor, she sat in my lap, licked my face, and I was done. I had several things scheduled already, and just wasn’t ready to take on a puppy. The kennel told me they would keep working with her, and when I was ready to take her after my commitments I could. Once I agreed to take on this project, I was then informed she would be completely donation based, the county would not be paying anything for her, and I would not be able to solicit for her. I said ok, I got this, because in my mind I was starting to think of the potential for this dog to help with First Responders.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I was born and raised in Delaware, Ohio. I have been a 911 Dispatcher for Delaware County for 26 years, and a supervisor for the past 22 years. I am also a certified firefighter/EMT-B. I got into the fire/ems side of things in 1999 as I wanted to also be on the other end of the calls I was taking. Having that experience has helped me as a dispatcher to have that perspective or what happens on the other end of the radio as well. I absolutely love being busy, and in the middle of chaos in the dispatch room. I love my job as multi-tasking is my specialty, and making sure everyone goes home safe is my goal.
I have met some amazing people since taking on this role of dog handler, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I am proud of how well Coco has adjusted to this job of hers. She has comforted so many First Responders, and brought smiles to those who let down their guard because of her. I love being able to share her with those who need it, and those who don’t realize they need it until they pet her. The love from a dog can do amazing things for a person.
Coco is a therapy dog to provide relief to those that are anxious, offer affection, comfort, and provide a happy distraction. First responders have hard jobs, so any distraction for them that is positive, is a good one, especially if it’s a dog. Dogs are sensitive to human stress, anxiety, depression, and negative energy via smell. She does not respond to scenes or locations of incidents. Her main priority is for first responders, but we have gone to schools after traumatic incidents, and to other counties to help with peer support after incidents they have had. We do public relation events to get the word out about her, and what she does. I will take her to anyone who requests her if possible, and it doesn’t conflict with my work schedule.
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
I stumbled upon the profession as a 911 dispatcher, in fact I didn’t even know what I was applying for. I would not change it though because I love my job, and the people I get to help. It has been an amazing experience with the connections I have made. I have lifelong friendships because of this job.
As far as Coco I wouldn’t change that either, even though I was hesitant at first. She has made such a difference between the 911 Center, fire/ems/police departments in our county as well as outside counties, peer support, schools, and the public relations events we do. I also love being able to be a peer with the county’s peer support team, as well as Ohio Assist now. Ohio Assist is a partially donation funded 3 day peer support seminar, completely free to any first responder in Ohio, as well as their spouse or a support person they bring. They can unload their “backpack”, be amongst those who do the same thing they do, talk to a clinician, talk to a chaplain if they choose, go to addiction meetings if they choose, do relaxation yoga, and talk to peers in their field. It can be a wonderful reset button for those willing to do the work.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
Getting the message out to other First Responders that it is ok to not be ok. So many don’t get the help they need because they are told to move on, get over it, get ready for the next call. That mentality has to change, because that isn’t the case anymore. It needs to be stressed early on in careers of this field that it’s ok to ask for help, and there are so many resources out there to be used. Those who have been in the career for a long time don’t need to be feel shameful if they need help, as it can be what they need to prolong their career. Being in a safe environment to unload the “backpack” can make a tremendous difference. The stress of the job affects your work performance, your home life, your sleep, your health, and you friendships. Putting your own mental well being ahead of everything else can make a difference all around.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://emergencycomms.co.delaware.oh.us/therapy-dog/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delcoco911/
- Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/delcoco911/
- Twitter: DelCoco911