State-Certified Crisis Response Therapy Dogs Available for Schools

Trooper enjoys playing catch, his favorite food is pizza crust, and he is trained to provide comfort and smiles wherever he goes.  In fact, the four-year-old Border Collie Mix has been deployed across the country supporting those who have experienced a tragedy and helping others open up to share their feelings.

llinois is the first state in the country to certify law enforcement therapy dogs, and the calming power of Trooper, from Springfield, and other K9 therapy dogs from Cook County, Kendall County, and Worth was on full display at the recent Illinois School Safety Conference in Rosemont. The four-legged friends received pets and attention from conference attendees curious to know more about them and their emotional healing powers.

“Now more than ever, our communities need this support. The ability for people to express their grief and relieve their stress in the presence of these wonderful K9s is truly impactful.” said Jennifer Wooldridge, the state Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) coordinator and handler of Trooper from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.

The dogs can be sent to support individuals in crisis, enhance wellness, and strengthen community support. They can also visit schools to help students and staff heal after a tragic event.

“The idea is that if there’s a crisis in Illinois, you don’t have to call a national number. We’re the boots on the ground for Illinois,” said Wooldridge.

The state’s Crisis Response Therapy K9 Certification course was developed by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board in partnership with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. Once their training is complete, K9 therapy dogs can be given to law enforcement agencies across Illinois for free.

Wooldridge said therapy dogs were used to comfort students and staff of an after-school program in Chatham after a vehicle crash through the building resulted in the deaths of four children and a teen counselor last year.

“As the students needed a counselor to talk to, we were there with the dogs and they were just sitting there quietly with them to pet and it just helped them open up,” Wooldridge said.

You can learn more about the Crisis Response Therapy K9 Certification training and how to request a Therapy Canine Team at this website or by calling 773-67-4DOGS (3647), Option 9 or emailing CITIllinoisTherapyK9@Illinois.gov.