DRCISST THERAPY CANINES
Crisis Response Canines
Developed by introducing a “Crisis Therapy Dog”
for members to connect with. Proven research on
the benefits of bringing in a Crisis Therapy Dog on a
regular basis into a Communications Unit has revealed
that interacting with calm, well-mannered dogs helps
to decrease heart rate, lower blood pressure, and help
First Responders/Communications staff to unwind
in a very simple yet effective way.
905-576-8711 EXT 33200
How Crisis Response Canines Help The Helpers
An Interview With Our Volunteer Dog Handlers
Q. What is a crisis response canine?
It’s similar to a therapy dog except they have to be able to handle stress. The Dogs under go training with our Canine Evaluator who will assess their abilities and ensure they are qualified to be Crisis Canines. They they will do general visit, pre-education as well as defuses and debriefings with first responders (firefighters, police officers and paramedics) after critical incidents. There training is ongoing throughout the year.
Q. How does it work?
When the dogs do a defuse and debrief, they circulate a room. Dogs are intuitive and they can sense stress. They can quite often find the first responder most impacted by the call. Research has shown that just 10 minutes with a well- mannered dog can lower physical stress levels.
Q. What kind of calls do the crisis canines respond to?
Not all the calls that the dogs respond to are critical incidents, however they are deployed at defuses and debriefs that could involve the death of a first responder, or a homicide, and often any emergency call involving a child.
Q. How are the dogs evaluated?
We have a dedicated Canine Professional trainer that puts the dogs through a series of tests to get their certification. Read more about our Canine Program here
EXPLORE OUR CANINE GALLERIES
See Our Crisis Canines in Action!
Developed by introducing a “Crisis Therapy Dog”
for members to connect with. Proven research on
the benefits of bringing in a Crisis Therapy Dog on a
regular basis into a Communications Unit has revealed
that interacting with calm, well-mannered dogs helps
to decrease heart rate, lower blood pressure, and help
First Responders/Communications staff to unwind
in a very simple yet effective way.
