About Us
NATIONAL Crisis Response Canines is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization with a network of trauma-informed handler+canine crisis teams across the U.S.
We offer the nation’s only formal, comprehensive training and certifications programs specific to crisis response canine work.
Service Driven
Mission
Our mission is to harness the power of the human + canine bond to inspire resilience and recovery in people affected by crisis, trauma or disaster, including the responders who help them.
Vision
Our vision is for every one of the 30,000 towns, villages, and cities in the United States to have local, trained, and certified crisis response canine teams to inspire recovery and resilience, ensuring a healthier, shared future for all.
Core Principles
- Our teams serve individuals and communities experiencing crisis or trauma without seeking recognition or benefit in return.
- We never solicit donations during critical incidents or use those situations for fundraising or self-promotion. Our focus is solely on providing compassionate support.
- We respect the human dignity of all people and provide crisis response to individuals regardless of their religion, race, ethnicity, gender, gender status, political or legal status, nationality, or any other aspect that makes us unique and yet universally human.
Learn more about how NATIONAL affirms the basic human right to humanitarian aid as a signatory to The International Code of Conduct.
Certified in Crisis Response
Certified NATIONAL Crisis Response Canine teams go through what we believe to be the most robust and comprehensive crisis response-specific training in the nation. While some of our canines may have prior service dog or pet therapy experience, crisis response requires a whole new level of skill, temperament and resilience from both the canine and the handler.
Learn more about what sets certified NATIONAL Crisis Response Canine teams apart: Why NATIONAL?
Volunteer Powered
NATIONAL Crisis Response Canines is an all volunteer organization. Everything we do is accomplished by the generous spirit of our volunteers and our commitment to the common good.
Our responders volunteer their time and bear the cost of training and certification along with providing their own canine, gear, travel expenses, food, veterinary costs and lodging as needed. By being completely self-provisioned, we don’t further strain the critical resources of other agencies delivering humanitarian relief to the survivors.
Our instructors and mentors are passionate about helping teams learn. They volunteer their time and expertise with our extensive training program.
Part of Your Team
We work alongside responders, community organizations, schools, public safety, nonprofits, and counselors providing crisis relief and humanitarian aid. For example, our canine teams may be requested to:
- Support children and families overwhelmed by personal crisis.
- Assist neighborhoods recovering from natural disasters.
- Suggest healthy coping strategies following a workplace incident.
- Gently guide communities through the aftermath of a school shooting.
- Offer stress management and emotional respite for responders and agency staff during incident debriefings.
Learn more about our Community Partnerships and Who We Help.
On Location Support
When our local handler+canine teams have a working relationship with community partners in their own town, it ensures that crisis response is not only swift but also aligned with the socio-cultural, geographic, and community-centered needs of those affected.
By working within the community fabric, our teams provide the safe support that is both deeply personal and highly effective. As our network expands, so will the availability of locally based teams. When local teams are not available, certified NATIONAL crisis response canine teams from around the country can respond to the call out.
Action & Innovation
NATIONAL Crisis Response Canines has a long history of action and innovation — from our founders work during 9/11 at Ground Zero to the development of the nation's most comprehensive training program. To learn more, visit Our History.