LAKE COUNTRY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- K-9 Tesla touched thousands of people during her years with Lake Country Fire and Rescue, where she worked as a therapy dog.
Her service was cut short when she unexpectedly died this past April. But now, her legacy is living on through the K9 Tesla Foundation.
Tesla had a routine for six years.
"She would make other people's day better," said her partner and owner, Matthew Haerter.
She happily showed up to work at Lake Country Fire and Rescue, brightening people's days as a public safety therapy dog.
"She was bred for it, and it was a home run," Haerter said.
Assistant Fire Chief Matthew Haerter was always by her side.
Together, they created a model for what a public safety therapy dog can be.
"When we started six years ago working, it was something that wasn't anywhere," he said.
Helping first responders with their mental health challenges has been a focus for Haerter.
"She could read people. She would go in a room and immediately go to the person, even though we were trained for it, immediately go to the person who was probably having the worst day," he said.
Haerter thought he and Tess had years of work ahead of them.
But back in April, Tesla died from a clot in her spinal cord.
"It was literally a light switch. She went from being 100% of what she always was, to she gave up that day," he said. "When she left, it became obvious that that's what we needed to do right away."
And what he did is start the K9 Tesla Foundation.
"It's a real pup that caused all of this to happen," he said, showing off some of the merchandise he's created to help the cause. Tesla's face and pawprint can be found on hoodies and sweatshirts, stuffed animals and helmet shields.
The foundation is raising money to fund therapy dog programs for other first responders.
"We know more first responders are dying by suicide than are dying out on the road. More people are killing themselves than are being killed on calls," Dr. Craig Childs said.
Childs is a police and public safety psychologist and foundation board member.
"I thought it was a great idea. I thought, what a really wonderful way to honor Tess," Childs said.
Seeing how Tesla helped people in Lake Country, it's now Haerter's mission to make sure others have access to that same kind of comfort and care.
"Now it's up to me to make sure that she's honored well. And I sit comfortably, knowing that that's happening," he said.
Haerter was named the 99th Assembly District's First Responder of the Year just a few weeks ago for his commitment to the community and therapy dog advocacy.
The K9 Tesla Foundation just got its nonprofit status. Haerter retired from Lake Country Fire Nov. 1. So, he can devote his time now to growing the foundation and bringing therapy animals to other departments.
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If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].