Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) PEER Support Team member Roman Sanchez posted a photo of his PEER Support canine, Cooper, on Instagram. The caption likened Cooper to an “inside member,” a firefighter term used to describe the individual on a crew that is responsible for forcible entry - breaking down barriers and creating a safe entrance for firefighters to get in, fight the fire, and get out.
“That’s what our canines do,” said Captain Sanchez of PEER Support canines like Cooper. “They break the ice and open up that door so we can provide resources for people in their time of need.”
For Captain Sanchez, a Navy veteran with 23 years on the LAFD, being a mentor is what he was destined to do.
“In firefighting, you’re choosing a career where you’re constantly exposed to traumatic events,” he shared. “I knew providing this support to others was my calling.”
Having spent many of his years at the busiest stations in the city, Captain Sanchez witnessed his share of life-altering events. As time went on, he continued to see a need for innovative ways to reach those more hesitant to open up or seek help.
Captain Sanchez first saw the power of canine therapy through Tom Tackett with the Patriotic Service Dog Foundation. He witnessed the incredible impact on veterans and wanted to join the team that provided the same for members of the LAFD.
Once Captain Sanchez decided to become a canine handler, the next step was to find a partner. After searching for the perfect companion, he learned about a dog that needed rescuing from Kingman, Arizona.
“His fur was matted, he was skinny – he was just in really bad shape,” Captain Sanchez recalled of first picking up Cooper. He took him to a nearby Petco, where they shaved the matted fur and gave him a thorough bath. Before long, Cooper was on the road to recovery with his new owner, Captain Sanchez.
The initial training for a therapy canine is quite involved, and it takes a while for dogs to be released fully to their handler. But with Cooper and Captain Sanchez, that connection and trust was established faster than usual.
“I think he knows that I saved him. He’s just so grateful to be rescued,” Captain Sanchez said as he reflected on his and Cooper’s companionship.
In just five months, Cooper has made quite the impact as a PEER Support canine. When off-duty LAFD firefighter Conner Lee went missing in December 2024, Cooper and Captain Sanchez went to the candlelight vigil to provide support for the grieving family and Department members.
The duo was also called on by the LAFD’s Behavioral Health Program team during the Palisades Fire. They visited the LAFD’s Palisades Fire Stations 23 and 69 and helped firefighters find reprieve in pets, hugs, and even just the presence of Cooper.
Captain Sanchez emphasized that the PEER Support Team is not just for members of the Department, although their needs take priority. “It’s fulfilling the needs of the community as well and providing that service to citizens and residents,” he shared, which is part of the program’s mission and core values.
So, when members of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reached out to the LAFD Foundation requesting a therapy dog visit, President Liz Lin called Captain Sanchez to see if he and Cooper could help out.
The EPA team had been working long hours, assisting with clean-up, and assessing the debris and environmental impacts of the Palisades Fire. When Chief Robert Takeshita, with his PEER Support canine Willow, Captain Sanchez, and Cooper showed up, the energy shifted significantly. Despite only being able to stay for a couple of hours, Cooper and Willow had a significant impact that prompted a follow-up thank you, complete with photos, from the EPA team.
“They were excited and happy that we were there,” Captain Sanchez said of the visit. “We definitely changed the environment for them for that short period of time.”
Beyond connecting Cooper to an organization doing good work for the Los Angeles community, Captain Sanchez added that support from the LAFD Foundation is the reason the LAFD has canine therapy dogs. “The Foundation goes above and beyond,” he said, citing how donor dollars channeled through the Foundation help pay for the dogs, provide their pet insurance, and purchase necessities like kennels and bedding.
The role that PEER Support Team members play, especially those with canines, is not for the faint of heart. The position is 100 percent volunteer, as is the 24/7 training and care that goes into being a canine handler. But Captain Sanchez is more than proud of the work that he does to support his fellow firefighters and the community.
Although he usually uses the line as a joke to help lighten the mood for apprehensive LAFD members, Captain Sanchez means it when he says, “When you’re ready, Cooper’s ready.”
