Man's Best Friend Helps WTC Workers
Workers at Ground Zero receive therapy and a grief outlet in the shape of a golden retriever called Nikie - the site's only certified therapy dog. Other dogs helped at the city's family assistance centres. [BBC News]
Animal Assisted Crisis Response
Dog and handler teams assist in the safe effective emotional rescue, recovery, and on-going support for victims and responders affected by crisis and disaster
Healing Ways of Doctor Dog
Some 100 therapy dogs - Labs, mutts, a borzoi, a basset hound - and three cats worked the family center at Pier 94 following the Twin Towers attack. Other dogs helped the Red Cross to comfort firefighters, police officers, and rescue workers at ground zero. [May not work for all browsers.] [New York Times]
Crisis Response Program
When tragedy and people are gathered together in their grief, the simple act of petting a dog can give comfort that no words can offer. By Caring Canines, Boston.
Therapy Dogs Help Relieve Stress for Families, Staff, Volunteers
Animals provided comfort at a crisis center near the Pentagon following September 11. All were family pets of the volunteers on the other end of the leash.
California Fires -- Seeing Heart Dogs Offer Cheer
Emotional support dogs and their owners are helping in an evacuation center during the forest fires in southern California. Describes the Hope Crisis Response team training program. [Disaster News Network]
K-9 Disaster Relief
This non-profit organization works with national, state, and local crisis and disaster relief agencies as well as the academic community. It sponsors and hosts conferences, seminars and presentations on Canine Crisis Intervention. Articles on several aspects of this work.
Tribute to Nikie
Nikie and his handler enabled hundreds of construction laborers and rescue workers to talk about the extraordinary stress of working at ground zero.
Applejack is Crisis Certified
"Applejack" served as a loving distraction for emotionally traumatized people after shooting disasters at Santana and Granite Hills high schools. A.J. and handler are certified for Animal Assisted Emotional Support (AAES).
Four-Footed Therapy
Pier 94 became the Family Center following the World Trade Center attacks. The task of orienting, scheduling, and monitoring the 100 four-footed therapists from several pet therapy groups fell to the ASPCA counselors.
Therapy Dog Eases Tennessee Tornado Anxieties
Story of a gentle golden retriever that helps victims of disasters to recover emotionally. [American Red Cross]
Disaster Relief Dogs
Therapy Dogs assisted families and relief workers following 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. Other examples from September 11. Includes a poem. Therapy Dogs International (TDI) is preparing training and testing standards.
Good Dog Foundation
This local pet therapy group worked disaster relief following September 11 and is preparing for future needs.
Vachss - Dogs of the Zero
Good-natured german shepherd worked with abused children and accompanied them into court during trials. Part of the Childrens Advocacy Center
Seeking Creature Comfort in Crisis
Specially trained teams of therapy animals and their handlers helped ease the pain for rescue workers, fire fighters, police, and victims' families after the September 11 attacks. Some traveled from Oregon to help at Ground Zero. [VetCentric]
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