Dispatcher Nugget: He’s a WHAT?!
Written by Heather Blaney, published on December 5, 2023
As I sit down to write this, with fear and anxiety, I have in my lap a 9lb slightly overweight calming ball of black and white striped fur. His weight on my lap and the vibration of his breaths are soothing as I navigate the thought of writing my first blog about what his job entails.
My soothing little ball of pure dopamine is Dispatcher Nugget, or 42-PU, my personal companion and our 911 center’s official Emotional Support Dispatcher. Nugget is a skunk. That’s right, he is a skunk, and his job is imperative to our center in so many ways.
More and more companies are choosing to adopt pet policies in the workplace. Whether that would be allowing pets to come in, offering therapy dog sessions, or having an on-site emotional support animal. These companies have realized the benefits of allowing animals in the workplace are instant and long-lasting. The benefits outweigh the risks.
Benefits we have experienced firsthand ourselves include employee attraction and retention. Our application numbers more than tripled within the first six months of Nugget’s introduction into our community. Our new employees are excited not only to have the opportunity to work alongside Nugget but also to be allowed and encouraged to bring in their own pets (within our policy requirements).
Nugget also helps encourage dispatchers to get out of their seats! This is done by taking him outside to use the bathroom, racing him to the trash can that is on the floor, or simply wanting to give him a snack. Our community involvement has improved significantly as well. We are invited to community events more than ever before, and we are able to get out into our community to help educate people on 911 and the programs we offer.
Nugget is a beloved part of our community, and I know just how lucky we are to have him.
I am a firm believer in using animals for mental health and wellness, and we started speaking at conferences about thinking outside of the box species-wise and how to start the process of an animal policy at work. My path has just begun with advocating for Emotional Support Dispatchers, and I am both excited and nervous to see how far we can go. I am no one special, just a girl and her pet skunk. Along with another 911 professional, we are hoping to start 911 Comms & Critters to help bring awareness to anyone who will listen and support our cause.
Mental health and wellness are often overlooked, as many of us know first hand. An animal's presence can lower blood pressure, relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression, reduce loneliness and increase feelings of social support, encourage exercise and playfulness, boost our mood, and so much more! I’ve met dispatchers who have told me they have squirrels, pot belly pigs, reptiles, and even one said they had a raccoon for a while. Something as simple as a caged hamster can help lower anxiety and boost serotonin.
Nugget and I have traveled and met so many amazing people this past year, and I love that he has been received and welcomed at every event we have attended. He is the perfect example of an Emotional Support Dispatcher, and everyone who has met him can attest to this. At our last conference, during the Final Banquet, we were approached by a woman who stated she was specifically looking for us. She had just received tragic news during the celebrations and was fighting back tears. I simply handed her Nugget and we walked into the quiet hallway. I didn’t ask her anything. She sat alone with Nugget in her arms, and I watched as he nuzzled into her neck and let all his weight fall on her chest, and she could no longer hold back the tears. I stopped watching at this point to give her privacy, but at that moment, I was so proud of Nugget and all of the work that he does. Not just for me, not just for my community in Knox County, Indiana, but for all the work he does for my 911 community as well.
He is still sitting with me, having moved to the side between my hip and my chair, and all I can feel is his warmth, Nugget is the calm in our chaos. He is a true chaos coordinator here at Knox County Central Dispatch in Indiana.
Thank you, Heather for sharing your experience with us. If you are interested in writing a blog, please email amanda@911derwomen.com. Sign up for our newsletter on our homepage to stay up to date with 911der Women programming, exclusive content and blog updates. Click here and scroll to the bottom.
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