HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response (HOPE AACR), a national nonprofit organization whose members provide comfort and encouragement, through animal-assisted support, to persons affected by crises and disasters, is conducting an extensive 3-day training workshop for 8 dog/handler teams and 1 team leader from around the Midwest May 17-19, 2024. Two of those teams are from the Upper Peninsula and are being trained thanks to a generous donation from the Superior Health Foundation. These dog/ handler teams will be newly certified crisis response dogs and will be trained to work in high stress situations, noisy and often crowded environments to provide comfort and emotional support for those affected by crisis or disaster. They create a special bridge for those who are isolated or shut down due to trauma.
“We’re honored to have the opportunity to increase our presence around the Upper Peninsula and the Midwest so that our specially trained and certified dog/handler teams will be available to support the mental health and recovery efforts of other voluntary agencies and relief organizations such as the Red Cross, FEMA, the Salvation Army, schools, local police and fire to name a few.” says Keena Jones, Regional Manager of Animal-Assisted Crisis Response 1292 High Street, #182, Eugene,OR 97401 Email: info@hopeaacr.org www.hopeaacr.org 877-HOPE-K9S (877-467-3597) HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization,Tax ID #93-1330180 the Midwest Region (MWR). Since HOPE AACR was founded in 2000, over 300 certified dog/handler teams have provided emotional care and comfort to victims and first responders following the September 11 th terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina, wildfires in California, Georgia and Florida, Virginia Tech following the shootings in 2007, and the Washington Navy Yard following the mass shooting there in 2013. HOPE AACR MWR teams have been deployed to Florida, Maine, and Colorado when the call for deployment has requested to them, nationally. Locally, HOPE teams have responded in the wake of deaths at the Marquette Schools, Ishpeming High School, Munising Baptist School, Republic-Michigamee Schools, LaSalle High School in St. Ignace, the Sault Public Schools, NMU and LSSU. HOPE AACR teams collaborate with various state and local emergency first responders and relief agencies and participate in disaster drills.
Training for the dog/handler teams includes presentations by first responders, relief agencies and HOPE AACR members on Disaster, Psychology, Working with Diverse Populations, Identifying and Managing Stress, Canine Behavior, and Psychological First Aid. There will be special on-site training at the Marquette Township Fire Department and at Sawyer International Airport where the dog/handler teams will pass through TSA security.
We are extremely grateful to be back in Marquette for this workshop. Our last workshop was here in 2017. Many local organizations have stepped up to sponsor us, such as the Superior Health Foundation, Bayshore Veterinary Hospital, UPHP, Super One Foods, Pats Foods, Falling Rock Café and Bookstore, Putvin Drugs, Pepsi, Marquette Township, Fire and Rescue, KI Sawyer International Airport, Delft Bistro and Marquette Schools Transportation Department.
