Animal Assisted Crisis Response Team Training - Hope Crisis Response has three and four day programs to prepare volunteers and their dogs. Teams provide emotional support in difficult situations.

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).

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]

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.

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.

Four-Footed Therapy - Pier 94 became the Familly 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.

Good Dog Foundation - This local pet therapy group worked disaster relief following September 11 and is preparing for future needs.

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. [M

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

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]

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]

Therapy Dog Eases Tennessee Tornado Anxieties - Story of a gentle golden retriever that helps victims of disasters to recover emotionally. [American Red Cross]

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.

Therapy Dogs Lift Spirits at Ground Zero - Hope Crisis and Response Team worked with the Red Cross to help bring emotional support to thousands affected by the World Trade Center attack. Emergency crew members call "Here pooch!" Everyone grins. They enjoy soft fur after a day of steel a

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.

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