04/30/2026
๐จ Handler Spotlight โ Special Edition: Lieutenant/Paramedic Renee Beasley & K9 Ash ๐พ
FFSHC is proud to recognize Lieutenant/Paramedic Renee Beasley, a dedicated professional with 21 years of service, and her K9 partner Ash, a valued member of the FFSHC Crisis Response K9 Team.
Renee and Ash represent the professionalism, compassion, and commitment required to support first responders within the crisis response and peer support environment. Ash, an 8-year-old black lab mix, came into Reneeโs life as a rescue, arriving at the farm for what was meant to be a short stay, and quickly becoming family. From that moment forward, Ash demonstrated a natural ability to provide calm, comfort, and emotional grounding during difficult moments.
Through structured training, certification, and operational experience, that natural ability was developed into a critical resource for first responders. Their progression reflects the standard expected of Crisis Response K9 teams.
Together, they have achieved:
โข FFSHC Crisis Response K9
โข Alliance of Therapy Dogs โ National Therapy Dog Certification
โข UCF RESTORES R.E.A.C.T Training
โข IAFF Peer Support
โข Behavioral Health Awareness
โข K9 First Aid & CPR Certification
Reneeโs professional qualifications further reinforce the strength and capability of the team, including:
โข Fire Officer I & II
โข Fire Inspector I
โข Fire Instructor I
โข Incident Safety Officer
โข ICS 100, 200, 300, 700, 800
Their operational deployment history includes responses to:
โข Hurricane Idalia (2023)
โข Hurricane Helene (2024)
โข Multiple IAFF Peer Support activations
Beyond deployments, Renee and Ash have also served their community through Open Heart Farms, supporting first responders, individuals with special needs, and providing equine-assisted services, including hippotherapy and Special Olympics programs.
Due to medical concerns, Ash will be entering immediate retirement from service. While her operational role is coming to a close, her impact on the first responder community will continue through the lives she has touched and the foundation she helped build.
While K9 Ash enjoys retirement, Renee will remain an integral part of the FFSHC Crisis Response K9 Team as she begins the process of selecting and training her next K9 partner.
Renee remains actively committed to the mission, continuing to support the team and host FFSHC Crisis Response K9 certification training at their farm, helping prepare future teams to carry our mission forward.
This level of service is not accidental, it is built through dedication, training, and an unwavering commitment to those we serve.
Thank you, Renee and Ash, for your professionalism, compassion, and service to the first responder community.