by
Dr. Lois Abrams
The HOPE Crisis Response Canine Teams worked the Grand Prix Fire, the Old Fire, Evacuation Centers at Jessie Turner in Fontana and the Norton Air Base, San Bernardino International Airport for seven days beginning October 24th thru November 3, 2003. It was a horrific scene. The Red Cross Centers had volunteers and mental health workers as well as nurses and medical doctors. Among the first responders outside the Red Cross were Lisa Evans, CTR, Taffy, Duke and myself, Lois Abrams, Ph.D., CTS. Lisa is an Animal Assited Therapy and Crisis Response worker and her Taffy, a four year old golden retriever, is a certified Delta Pet Partner. Duke is a certified Pet Therapy Team member by Delta Society, Therapy Dog International and Create-A-Smile and is my co-therapist.
Groups Serviced
The Teams worked with the American Red Cross Inland Valley and San Bernardino Chapters, the San Bernardino County Mental Health Department and the firefighters at the Grand Prix and San Bernardino camps. We also worked the area where the Salvation Army had set up outside the Norton Air Base.
The evacuation centers had anywhere from 100 to 2,000 victims. The San Bernardino Air Base had over 1,500 victims. We worked daily - Lisa worked one day and had to leave to a planned trip to Arizona. We had about eight HOPE teams working.with some joining us all the way from from Oregon.
The first place we visited was the Jessie Turner Center Evacuation Shelter in Fontana. When we arrived on day one, we were initially told that "no dogs were allowed inside the shelter," by a young Red Cross worker who was quickly corrected by a co-worker standing next to her who said, "That's right, except these dogs are allowed inside! We called them out to help." With that we entered the shelter where we checked in with the shelter manager, Diane Dyan. She greeted us with a warm smile and asked us to visit with the evacuees.
The Jessie Turner Center is a community center with bathrooms and a kitchen. Sleeping cots were placed in the main room as were tables and chairs. There was a separate eating room adjoining the kitchen. The dogs were welcomed in the eating area; however, most of our work was done in the main room. At times we went outside where there were makeshift kennels set up for the victims' animals. There was a tent area outside where the children did craft projects and played. This tent was hot and crowded. Once in a while the victims brought their own animals into the tent so we chose not to bring our dogs in there.
The second evacuation shelter we visited was the Norton Air Base also known as the San Bernardino International Airport. This is a huge airplane hangar and held 2,000 victims and hundreds of workers from the Red Cross and County Mental Health. The firefighters also did debriefings there. The first impression of this site was overwhelming. It reminded me of concentration camp pictures only there was humane treatment of the victims. It would take us over an hour to go from one end of the hangar to the other. We often lost sight of our teammates. The cots were moved around different days. The ARC tried to set up sections of the disabled, kids from group homes and families. Often the displaced were moved again in the hangar. The food area was to the rear of the hangar and outside. Many services came to help and set up venues outside the hangar, especially a variety of churches which gave out water, food and spiritual counseling. Outback Steak House prepared food outside for two days that we were there. We met the mayor of San Bernardino Judith Valles. We saw outgoing California Governor Gray Davis. One of the days we visited there was Halloween and Duke dressed as a cowboy. The kids and adults alike really seemed to enjoy that special day's visit.
We also visited two fire camps. This was at the invitation of Chief Tim Sappok and Sue Sappok. The first fire camp was near the Grand Prix Fire area off Interstate 15. We went at "chow time" and about 100 firefighters lined up to wait for their food between five and six in the evening. We visited with them while they waited in line. They seemed discouraged as they were losing the battle. We also went to the briefing area and had the dogs there petted and used as an R&R. We stayed away from the tent area where the firefighters were sleeping.
The second fire camp was located nearby the Norton Air Base. It had indoor headquarters and hundreds of tents. Duke went to several of the people working who looked very tired. They petted him and thanked us for being there. The Governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger was there for a briefing and we got to see him. A Supervisor from San Bernardino County was there petting our dogs as well. We also worked outside with the firefighters that were waiting to be briefed.
Overall Impressions
What stands out most in my mind are the countless times we heard "God Bless You" and "Thank you for being here with your dog," from victims and responders. Also, the warm and welcome reception we received from the American Red Cross and the San Bernardino Mental Health Counselors. Without a doubt it was the victims that gave us the biggest and most heartfelt appreciation.
We need many more canine crisis response teams in California and plan an open house to explain the training process to anyone with a canine that could be trained. Only trained and certified canine teams should respond to a crisis because of the insurance liability issue. It is also important to create a working relationship with other responders; we have nurtured our relationship with the Red Cross here in southern California for two years. It could jeopardize professional relationships and opportunities to work in the future if untrained and uncertified canines and handlers were used. Well-meaning people with pets are not trained to do this type of work and in general, dogs and other pets are not allowed in shelters. Our canines are allowed due to our relationship and previous work with the Red Cross.
There are two steps to becoming a crisis response canine team. The first is to be a Certified Therapy Dog and work in that capacity for at least 12 visits. (About three months to a year.) The next step is training for crisis response work. Sometimes the handler (owner) can handle the work but the canine might not be able to handle it. We are very mindful of humane and ethical treatment for our canines.
HOPE Crisis Response Canine Teams are trying to help, be safe and offer the profound comfort of our canine natural healers.
{From "Trauma Lines" Winter 2003 issue}