Accredited Facility Dogs in Critical Moments
DWW Cruiser and DWW Minnie show how Accredited Facility Dogs provide calm, courage, and support when words are hard to find.
Support When It Matters Most
Accredited Facility Dogs can provide calm, connection, and reassurance during some of life's most difficult moments.
For victims of crime, trauma survivors, first responders, and emergency communications professionals, the presence of a trained Accredited Facility Dog can help create space to pause, breathe, and begin to process.
This story highlights two Dogs With Wings Accredited Facility Dogs: DWW Cruiser with Lethbridge Police Service and DWW Minnie with Calgary 9-1-1 Emergency Communications.
DWW Cruiser with Lethbridge Police Service
DWW Cruiser works alongside the Lethbridge Police Service, supporting people who may be facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
For someone who has experienced crime or trauma, trust and safety can feel shaken. Being asked to share what happened with unfamiliar people, in unfamiliar settings, can feel overwhelming.
DWW Cruiser provides steady, quiet support in those moments. His presence helps people feel safer, supported, and able to begin finding their voice.
“Imagine being the victim of a crime or trauma — your sense of trust and safety shattered. Now imagine being asked to tell your story to strangers in uniforms and courtrooms. It feels almost impossible.
Enter DWW Cruiser. With unwavering support and quiet love, he helps people feel safe enough to find their voice. There is nothing we have found that compares to the strength and courage he provides.”
— Handler of DWW Cruiser, Lethbridge Police Service
DWW Minnie with Calgary 9-1-1 Emergency Communications
DWW Minnie is one of Dogs With Wings' newest Accredited Facility Dog placements. Just a few months after being placed, DWW Minnie supported Calgary 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Officers following a particularly difficult and tragic call.
In a moment when emotions were high and words were hard to find, DWW Minnie provided calm, quiet comfort simply by being present.
Her work is a powerful example of how Accredited Facility Dogs can support psychological wellness for professionals who serve the public during crisis situations.
“In a moment when emotions were high and words were hard to find, Minnie did what she does best. She provided calm, quiet comfort simply by being present. She created space for people to pause, breathe, and begin to process.
Moments like this are powerful reminders of the lasting impact Accredited Facility Dogs have on psychological wellness.”
— Handler of DWW Minnie, Calgary 9-1-1 Emergency Communications
The Impact of Accredited Facility Dogs
Calm During Crisis
Accredited Facility Dogs provide a steady presence during difficult, stressful, or traumatic moments.
Courage to Speak
Dogs like DWW Cruiser help people feel supported enough to begin sharing difficult experiences.
Support for Professionals
Dogs like DWW Minnie help emergency communications professionals pause, breathe, and process after difficult calls.
A Quiet Presence. A Lasting Impact.
Accredited Facility Dogs are trained to work alongside professionals in policing, emergency response, healthcare, education, advocacy, and community support settings.
Their work may be quiet, but the impact can be significant. A calm presence can help someone feel safer, more grounded, and less alone.
DWW Cruiser and DWW Minnie show how Accredited Facility Dogs support both people experiencing crisis and the professionals who respond to crisis.
Support More Accredited Facility Dog Partnerships
Your support helps Dogs With Wings train and place Accredited Facility Dogs that provide calm, courage, and connection in critical moments.
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