Muffin Cares

Cayce Fire Department Kicks Off Midlands Gives Campaign by
introducing SC’s First Registered Fire Department Therapy Horse
“Muffin” will help educate on fire safety and drug awareness across the Midlands; Launch on May 2
CAYCE, SC - The Cayce Fire Department (CFD) is launching their Midlands Gives campaign
request by unveiling the state’s first registered Fire Department Therapy Horse, Muffin.
Muffin, a 5-year-old mini horse, has gone through extensive training to be a registered therapy
horse per Pet Partners’ equine standards for pet therapy. Muffin and her handler, Lindsay
McDade, Cayce’s Community Risk Reduction Manager, received the highest rating during the
team evaluation through Pet Partners and are officially a registered pet therapy team.
The new “Muffin Cares” program is about meeting a community need of connection, reducing
stigma, and providing hope. The program will include fire safety information, drug prevention
and resiliency resources and will connect people to nonprofit partners like The Courage Center
and LRADAC.
Cayce Fire Chief, Steven Bullard explained, “Society has become technology driven, making
face-to-face interaction harder to come by, especially for the younger generations. Animal
Assisted Interventions (AAI) helps to bring back face-to-face communication and meet people
where they are at. This could be at a variety of rehabilitation, community-based, education or
other events.”
Cayce Community Risk Reduction Manager, Lindsay McDade, said she hopes to raise $10,000
during the May 7th Midlands Gives event. “We would like the Cayce Public Safety Foundation
to raise funds through Midlands Gives to provide additional equipment for Muffin and coloring
books and outreach materials to be distributed across the Midlands.”