Toggle the Arson K9 welcomed at Gulfport Fire Department

A new K-9 was welcomed to the Gulfport Fire Department back in May, but today was her official welcoming ceremony.

Toggle is a Labrador retriever who is specifically trained to help firefighters with arson investigations. City officials and members of the fire department at the ceremony got to see just what Toggle is capable of during some demonstrations put on with her handler. Once Toggle sniffs out any of those fire-starting chemicals she sits down, whether it is in a crowd or hidden somewhere.

Toggle has already played a role in three arson investigations since arriving on the Coast. She has also visited nursing homes and schools for fire safety assemblies, acting as a service dog there.

State Farm fully funded Toggle’s training and helped get her to Gulfport. Arlene Lester with State Farm public affairs said, “We’ve had teams apply throughout the country and not many of them are chosen.  Gulfport is very special to be able to bring that dog back to their community. The dog is provided by State Farm, all of his expenses as well are covered by State Farm, as well for the first year and then the fire department picks it up after that.”

At the end of the ceremony, each Gulfport firefighter was gifted with a Canary home security system. This surprise was a part of State Farm’s program ‘Protecting the Protectors.’