Crisis Response Canines (CRC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that certifies, trains, and deploys certified Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) and Animal Assisted Crisis Response (AACR) teams . Crisis Response Canines (CRC) deploys carefully selected, highly trained teams to scenes following traumatic events. In most cases, our national network of contacts combined with pre-incident relationships (established during routine visits) enables our teams to be contacted and respond as a rapid deployment within hours of any traumatic event. 

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Our Team members have a wide range of backgrounds including law enforcement, military, health care, and education. This highly experienced complement of team members affords for a broad range of peer-to-peer support in virtually any situation. 

 

Canine handlers are required to participate in robust education and training to achieve and maintain certifications from FEMA’s National Incident Command Structure Training and the principles of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM). Several of our members completed the CISM certification of knowledge exam offered through the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Department of Emergency Health Services thru its Professional and Continuing Education Program (PACE). Other required certifications include Pet First Aid, CPR, and specific courses associated with healthcare, and behavioral health.

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CRC canines also have extensive training and certifications including (not limited to): National Therapy Dog Certification, AKC Canine Good Citizen, AKC Canine Good Citizen Advanced, AKC Canine Good Citizen Urban, Crisis Working Dog Certification, and Law Enforcement Defensive Systems Crisis Working Dog. Certification.