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Pam Reinke
HELPING THE WORLD
NE PAW AT A TIME
T
he mission of HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response is to
provide comfort and encouragement through animal-assisted
support to individuals affected by crisis and disasters. Our
teams are trained extensively in human and pet first aid
and CPR, mental health issues, disaster stress management,
and instructions on incident command structures of local law and
emergency management authorities.
Many believe that just the sight of a dog will release the hormone
oxytocin, which is responsible for the feeling of well-being. Several
medical journals corroborate this belief and also report that it can
help lower blood pressure, heart rate, pain, and anxiety. When people
experience profound loss and stress, like a disaster the magnitude of
a fire, flood, or earthquake, our bodies release over 130 chemicals.
I’ve always said that my dog seemed able to “smell” the feelings of the
patients she visited, and she seemed to know who needed her most on
a visit, and perhaps this is why!
This special skill of dogs, helps provide a bridge to communica-
tion for individuals affected by disaster, making it easier for them
to verbalize their story or needs to the people who can then provide
them with the information they need. Because dogs are not judgmen-
tal, people develop a sense of trust, which is an essential foundation
for the healing process.