Visiting Rotarians

Former members of the club Larry and Alice Frawley stopped by the club and exchanged banners from their new club, the Rotary Club of Space Center in Houston with our President Tom Gigliotti. They were in town for Larry's 50th high school reunion.

Crisis Canine Corps Brings Comfort in Times of Crisis

This week, Shirley Graziano, founder and president of Crisis Canine Corps, introduced members to the nonprofit’s mission of providing trained therapy-dog support to individuals, first responders and communities affected by crisis and trauma.

The all-volunteer organization responds to incidents such as school tragedies, workplace violence and the loss of community members. Locally, its teams have supported those affected by tragedies at Valley Forge High School, a local middle school, Costco and the North Royalton municipal offices. The organization also visits hospitals, first responders and dispatchers, participates in community events and helps students manage stress during midterms and final exams.

Shirley explained that both ends of the leash receive extensive preparation. The dogs complete nationally recognized therapy-dog training and American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen certifications, along with continual desensitization work that prepares them for crowds, loud noises and unfamiliar environments. Handlers receive specialized Critical Incident Stress Management training so they can provide “emotional first aid,” stabilize people in distress and help connect them with professional support when needed.

Through several moving stories, Shirley illustrated how therapy dogs can help people feel safe enough to speak, process difficult emotions and begin healing. Crisis Canine Corps currently includes 23 teams and hopes eventually to provide advanced crisis-response training to every team.

Because the organization is entirely volunteer-run, community support helps cover emergency travel, training, certifications and round-the-clock operations. Shirley encouraged members to spread the word that Crisis Canine Corps is available as a local resource whenever crisis strikes.