This local pet therapy group worked disaster relief following September 11 and is preparing for future needs.

Good-natured German Shepherd worked with abused children and accompanied them into court during trials. Part of the Children's Advocacy Center

This non-profit organization works with national, state, and local crisis and disaster relief agencies as well as the academic community. It sponsors and hosts conferences, seminars and presentations on Canine Crisis Intervention. Articles on several ...

Dog and handler teams assist in the safe effective emotional rescue, recovery, and on-going support for victims and responders affected by crisis and disaster

Nikie and his handler enabled hundreds of construction laborers and rescue workers to talk about the extraordinary stress of working at ground zero.

Animals provided comfort at a crisis center near the Pentagon following September 11. All were family pets of the volunteers on the other end of the leash.

Some 100 therapy dogs - Labs, mutts, a borzoi, a basset hound - and three cats worked the family center at Pier 94 following the Twin Towers attack. Other dogs helped the Red Cross to comfort firefighters, police officers, and rescue workers at ground...

Trained therapy dogs bring emotional support following the killings at Virginia Technical University. (WCAV News)

"Tuffy" and her owner are part of a Certified Trauma Response K-9 Team in Massachusetts. They provide support to friends of those killed at Virginia Tech. (WMUR)

Workers at Ground Zero receive therapy and a grief outlet in the shape of a golden retriever called Nikie - the site's only certified therapy dog. Other dogs helped at the city's family assistance centres. [BBC News]