Unfortunately, the invitations come when disaster strikes.
For Sheila and Hope Animal Assisted Crisis Response, the dogs they train help people in these crises.
“The dogs always make a difference,” Sheila said. “There is something about dogs where people come up to them, they can relate. They may have dogs at home. They may have had to leave their dogs at home. We talked to many international visitors today who had dogs that they had to leave at home, who are very happy to see the dog … as well as the families who are going through a very difficult time at any anniversary, but particularly the 25th anniversary” of 9/11.
Follow the full coverage of the 25th anniversary of 9/11 with Ground Level Reports. See related stories.
Sheila was on site at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum on Sept. 10 leading up to the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C.
Hope Animal Assisted Crisis Response is a national organization that trains dogs to provide comfort and care to people impacted by crisis and disasters.
See more stories related to coping with tragedy.
Sheila said the group was invited to offer comfort at the beginning and the end of the museum. The team brought eight dogs and handlers along with a few other volunteers, “to just interact, bring some comfort to those who may need it during this difficult anniversary,” she said. “The families and first responders have been coming up ever since we’ve gotten here. They love to talk to the dogs, ask about the dogs, watch the dogs do tricks, just something to take their mind off of why they’re here and what happened 25 years ago.”
Hope is a national organization that has teams across the country and in Canada. For more information, visit hopeaacr.org.
