By Daily Press staff
Within 15 minutes of the Farmer’s Market crash last Wednesday, the first K9 Crisis Response Team arrived to comfort victims and witnesses.
The certified handler and the pug were working with traumatized children and adults, including the mother who tragically lost her toddler. While holding her infant, the mother was sobbing and petting the dog, repeatedly saying how her daughter loved dogs.
Later, the pug comforted a very distressed woman who has witnessed the accident and saw people flying in the air and farmers who had jumped to safety. The specially trained pug remained clam around the screaming, the commotion of the emergency workers, the scents of blood and the sirens, while focusing on its job of helping people.
Two more K9 units arrived and helped with the crowd, and family members who arrived at the scene were frantic about knowing whether their loved ones were one of the victims. They set up two canopies and provided shelter, water and snacks.
Once the shelter was opened by the Red Cross at the Civic Center, the K9 Crisis Units went there and also went to the hospitals to provide their services.
The K9 Crisis Response Team is a special program provided by “Create-A- Smile,” a not-for-profit organization. Even before 9-11, the organization has been providing services to the community in crisis situations.
The program is looking for a training facility in the Santa Monica area. Donors or volunteers interested in the program should contact the office at (310) 392-6257 or visit Web site at www.create-a-simle.org.
The K9 Crisis Response Team dispatch phone number is 1-866-K9 HELPS.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 21, 2003. Read the original PDF.