"Buddy," A Disaster Relief Dog, Visiting The Northern Panhandle 

Release Date: October 26, 2004
Release Number: 1558-073

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Charleston, W. Va. -- "Buddy", a friendly, stress-relieving Golden Retriever, along with his trainer, Frank Shane, is traveling to West Virginia's Northern Panhandle flood disaster area after their return from Punta Gorda, Florida. In Florida they provided encouragement and solace to people affected by Hurricane Charlie.

Buddy's visit to the Panhandle represents the first time the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has officially included a disaster relief canine as part of its disaster work force.

In Florida, when Charlie hit, the Salvation Army requested canine assistance. The manager of FEMA's Disaster Recovery Center in Punta Gorda worked with the Salvation Army to provide canine services for their applicants. The success of that effort led FEMA to sanction officially Canine Disaster Relief as a method for relieving anxiety among people suffering emotional stress.

Buddy's trainer, Frank Shane, of Upper Montclair, N.J., teaches courses in Canine Disaster Relief and Critical Incident Stress Management. He calls Buddy "a live teddy bear", emphasizing that "Canine disaster relief is psychological first aid and does not involve therapy". Frank participated in 9/11 canine disaster relief efforts at ground zero in New York.

With Buddy on hand to nuzzle people - young and old - and distract them a bit from their immediate concerns, they can gain a renewed sense of possibilities for a time when disaster won't be such a prominent factor in their lives.

On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 26-Oct-2004 09:42:16