K9 River

WHAT IS A CRISIS RESPONSE K9?

A Crisis Response K9 Team is defined as a Nationally Certified Therapy Dog with an additional Crisis Response endorsement, paired with a First Responder handler.

“River”, was trained and certified as a Therapy K9 with a Crisis Response Endorsement in 2024. Paired with her handler, EMA Deputy Director Steve Ashing, she provides comfort and peer support to responders in other agencies, and to the general public in the aftermath of a critical incident or disaster. Her training has been specialized for the first responder world – ready to respond with little to no notice, providing a calm, comforting presence in the face of intense emotion, grief, and even chaos. River and her handler are capable of serving at many levels, from providing peer support for other first responders during debriefings, to responding to incidents at schools or other public events or facilities, aiding the public in the aftermath of a casualty or disaster. The Therapy K9 program also offers an exceptional opportunity for public relations to all of Jasper County community through educational outreach appearances at community and school events.

We will deploy to crisis events for first responders and the public, we offer visits to schools, hospitals, nursing homes and buisness offices. If you have a request, plesase contact Steve at sashing@jasperema-hls.org or call 641-841-1181. 

In partnership with Crisis Canines of the Midlands