Meet Scout: Fall River’s Newest Comfort Dog Brings Hope After Tragedy

The past year’s tragedies have been tough on the city’s three branches of public safety, with tragedies like the Gabriel House fire last July that claimed the lives of 10 residents, injuring dozens more and the double murder of a mother and son in January.

So, with an eye on bringing comfort, not just to staffers from police, fire and emergency management services, as well as the public, EMS Chief Beth Faunce had an idea.

Meet Scout, an adorable 12-week-old Golden Retriever puppy and the newest member of the Fall River EMS department.

Scout, who has been “on duty” with EMS for four weeks now, is currently training to be the department’s comfort dog, with plans that he’ll eventually be schooled in search and rescue of children and at-risk adults.

Scout is now the city’s second comfort dog. In May 2024, mixed breed Sophie Marie was just six months old when she arrived from a Mississippi dog shelter to the Fall River Fire Department.

EMS Chief Beth Faunce said she saw the interaction Sophie Marie had with city public safety personnel after the Gabriel House fire and saw firsthand the comfort she brought to those who were involved in the worst and deadliest fire in the city in decades.

“We’d been talking about it for over a month and weighed the pros and cons of a shelter dog rescue or starting with a young dog,” said Faunce.

They contacted Charles Young, of the Massachusetts-based Professional K-9 Services.

“He said, ‘well the dogs are here now, and I’ll pick you out a puppy.’ It was perfect timing” said Faunce. “The stars were aligned.”

She said Mayor Paul Coogan was onboard.

Faunce picked up the tab for Scout and is funding his training. The gifting of Scout to the city is before the City Council.

“I purchased Scout for my employees because I felt that mental health is important,” said Faunce.

Big plans for Scout

FREMS Paramedic Jace Brouillette volunteered to train and watch over Scout, already starting comfort dog school. Brouillette already has a Yellow Lab, 4-year-old Willow, at home, who in October had one her legs removed due to a tumor. 

But it hasn’t stopped her and she and Scout have become fast friends, said Brouillette.

“She’s so well behaved, so it just seemed like a good fit,” said Faunce.

Scout’s comfort dog dance card is filling up already. Faunce said Scout is scheduled to visit the Fall River Public Library where kids will read to him.

“We’re going to bring him to a lot of city events. We’re having a meeting with South Coast today to try to get him into their comfort dog program. If they have a critical event or a bad call, we can bring him in. If the police have a bad call, we can bring him in. What we are trying to do is decrease that stress level,” said Faunce.

Scout has already visited Borden Medical Associates and the emergency room at Charlton Memorial Hospital.

When Brouillette is on an emergency room run to Charlton, they are always asking for Scout.

Paramedic Justin Texeira, a member of the EMS department’s community program that treats patients at home rather than trips to the ER, said when Scout’s trained, he’ll be able to go on home visits.

“It’s a different level of companionship,” said Texeira.

And Scout is no doubt a big hit at One Government Center, when any day the 12-week-old puppy is getting belly rubs and pets from the staff.

“I’m telling you, he’s going to have a fan club,” said Faunce.