5-year-old therapy horse named Muffin becomes newest member of Cayce Fire Department

CAYCE, SC (WOLO) — The Cayce Fire Department is introducing the newest member to their team — but she’s not what you might expect.

Muffin is a five-year-old miniature horse. She’s now South Carolina’s first ever therapy horse to help firefighters save lives. But don’t worry, Muffin won’t be putting out any fires.

According to Lindsay McDade, Muffin’s handler, she’ll be sparking connection, conversation, and hope with individuals around the community during drug prevention efforts.

“Our society is so technology driven. And just that face to face interaction, number one, that’s what pet therapy does. It’s just interacting with an animal and just having that connection, and just knowing us better as a fire service and what we do. And then also our important messaging whether it’s fire safety month, or we’re talking about drug awareness and prevention messaging. Just having that and being able to express that in a safe environment, just allowing them to connect with a horse, and whether it’s a 30 second interaction or we need to refer them to another organization for resources, that can all be done,” says McDade.

City of Cayce Fire Chief Steven Bullard says he loved McDade’s idea of bringing Muffin on board.

“The main goal is to break that stigma. Drug addiction is a problem we’re seeing across the nation, and a lot of departments are coming up with innovative ways to make that jump and start those conversations, and get people help. That way we can help them before something bad happens,” says Bullard.

According to Bullard, initial funding for Muffin comes from the department’s opioid recovery funds, but they’re also looking for the community’s help through the ongoing Midlands Gives campaign.

Vice President of the Cayce Public Safety Foundation Rebecca Lorick says they work to provide assistance for non-budgeted initiatives — like Muffin.

“We can’t do that without dollars, so it’s so important for people to be generous and donate to causes like this. Because without donors, we couldn’t do things like this. I mean it’s really important, for example, our K9s, they need food. And that’s a non budgeted item so we provide things like that. We provide supplies that enhance the ability for these departments to do their jobs and do them well,” says Lorick.

McDade says Muffin will need a new vest (she’s currently wearing a therapy dog vest) as well as funds to cover transportation costs, and hopes the community will help.

To help fund Muffin, visit Midlands Gives here.  Oh, and McDade says anytime Muffin is ready to retire, she’s allowed to do so.