Since 2012, The Cohasset Working Dog Foundation has sponsored therapy dog programs in communities on the South Shore. Called “Canine Ambassadors”, this program is comprised of more than three dozen specially trained volunteer therapy dog teams who regularly visit schools, libraries, senior centers, nursing facilities, hospice and special education programs in the towns of Cohasset, Hull, Hingham, Weymouth, Scituate, Marshfield, Norwell and Duxbury. Every week, our volunteers bring their calm, gentle and loving dogs to visit with and bring cheer to people of all ages in a wide variety of settings.
After receiving a number of requests to send teams to visit with people affected by traumatic events, we recognized a need for additional training in the area of crisis response, stress management and trauma. We understand that the nature of these visits is very different from what our teams are accustomed to. It is a different kind of work for our handlers and for their dogs, and we were determined to give them the training and support needed to make these special types of visits successful.
Over the course of many months, we consulted with first responders, representatives from MEMA, mental health professionals, professional dog trainers and therapy dog handlers with experience in these types of visits, and with their help. created a specialized curriculum. Ten of our most seasoned teams were selected and they were all eager to receive this training.
In the Spring of 2023, CWDF held two days of training with the goal of equipping these teams to respond to incidents of a critical nature. Workshop topics included the Incident Command System, the role of the therapy dog team responding to critical events, identifying and managing secondary post-trauma stress, the psychology of trauma response, engagement techniques and role playing exercises with actors simulating various levels of trauma response.
The “Canine Comfort Crew” of The Cohasset Working Dog Foundation stands ready to respond to incidents of a critical or sensitive nature, and to bring comfort and a furry companion to people of all ages who may be struggling with grief or trauma.
For more information, contact Trish Morse at info@cohassetworkingdog.org.