A local therapy dog is in the running for a national award after providing much-needed support to first responders during the Los Angeles wildfires.

Throw him a ball and 6-year-old Rudy will chase it. The poodle loves backrubs and playing with his buddies at their Chatsworth home, but when his vest comes on, he knows it's time for business.

Six-year-old poodle Rudy lives in Chatsworth with his owner. KCAL News

"We're trained by first responders, for first responders," said his owner, Steven Zonis.

Zonis has been training Rudy to be a certified therapy dog since he was a puppy. It's become his passion after a long career as an engineer, where he logged a lot of travel.

"I was tired of airplanes. I was tired of hotel beds, and I wanted to stay home and spend time with my dog," Zonis

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