By Dana Maze, American Red Cross  

Comfort, connection, and emotional relief - these are the gifts that the American Red Cross Animal Visitation Program bring to the military community in Southern California.

In July 2024, the Red Cross welcomed nine K9 teams to their volunteer base. These highly trained teams are part of Crisis Response Canines, a non-profit organization comprised of certified therapy dogs and skilled handlers who comfort those impacted by personal or community crisis events.

Among the K9 teams is lead volunteer Tina Swim and her dog Jamie. Tina’s journey into this line of volunteer work began when she was retiring from her chiropractic practice. A patient who trained service dogs suggested she should get involved, and as Tina says, “The rest is history.” Within a few years, Tina and her first dog Lauren were certified to work as part of the Ready, Pet, Go program at the airport, at the San Diego County District Attorney as a court dog team, and as a Crisis Response Team.

Every handler has taken a different path to this volunteer work, but Tina shares that despite their differences, they share one thing in common: “We have gradually taken on more challenging visits as both the handler and our canine become experienced enough to properly support the community we are visiting.”

Extensive training prepares the dogs and handlers for the situations they might encounter in the community and to be able to function with the emergency response system. “Over the course of years, we undertake various trainings for the handler and the canine, build skills, cement our bond, and conquer challenges together,” says Tina.

Both the dog and the handler have critical roles to play in their work. “The canines generally take on the human stress and try to mitigate it. You'll see a dog go to a person - approach, greet, then lay their head on the lap or lean in. They can just sit with a person and snuggle - or let themselves be stroked while the human's chat,” says Tina. “It is our job as handlers to know our dog's stress signals - and the stress signals of every dog on our team. We like to say the canines are a bridge: they help start the conversation, but it is our job to be trained to continue it appropriately.”

When Dan Beighley, Service to the Armed Forces and International Services Director for the American Red Cross Southern California Region and Marine Corps Veteran, learned about the possibility of incorporating K9 teams into his team’s work, he knew it was the missing piece in their programs.

“As a veteran and someone who worked closely with military working dogs during my time in service, I’ve seen firsthand the power a dog can have—not just operationally, but emotionally,” says Dan. “These animals are more than companions; they are stabilizers during chaos, silent listeners during grief, and loyal morale boosters during long deployments.”

Southern California is home to one of the nation's largest populations of active-duty service members, veterans, and military families. The need for ongoing emotional and psychological support in these communities is critical. “The Animal Visitation Program meets this need head-on by addressing the invisible wounds of service—offering comfort and connection in a way that resonates deeply within military culture,” says Dan. “The presence of these dogs helps break down emotional barriers, builds trust, and provides a much-needed reminder that no one has to face hardship alone.”

Shortly after the K9 teams became Red Cross volunteers, they held an inaugural briefing and visit at Camp Pendleton for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Chaplain Corps. The meeting highlighted the therapeutic benefits of incorporating Crisis Response Canines into military efforts, and chaplains learned how to incorporate these visits into their pastoral care. Just a few months later, Marines were deployed to support border operations in south San Diego, and the K9 teams had the opportunity to respond.

“We absolutely love working with the Marines,” says Tina. “They sacrifice so much to keep our country safe. They are usually far from home, maybe for the first time. And they seem very comforted by our visits. We truly enjoy hearing the stories of their lives, about their families and hometowns, and about their pets growing up.”

Dan echoes Tina’s sentiment and shares the overall benefits that the dogs have on those they comfort: “Service members who interact with the dogs consistently report feeling calmer, more at ease, and uplifted after just a few minutes of engagement. For many, these visits are a bright spot in their day—a moment to pause, breathe, and feel seen in a uniquely nonjudgmental way. It’s not uncommon to hear that these brief encounters leave a lasting impact, helping service members better cope with the daily stresses and demands of military life.”

Routine visits with the Marines have an added benefit as well. “When something traumatic happens, they are familiar with our faces - and more importantly, with our dogs. Most of them will have a favorite and will remember the dog's name, making it easier to start the decompression process or debrief following a troubling event,” says Tina.

Thanks to the relationship between Crisis Response Canines and the Red Cross Southern California Region’s Service to the Armed Forces Team, the Animal Visitation Program is making an impactful difference in the community.

“The Animal Visitation Program is rooted in empathy, grounded in service, and driven by the belief that healing comes in many forms—including four-legged ones,” says Dan.

This work wouldn’t be possible without the dedicated working dogs and their selfless handlers.

“We are so blessed to have these very special creatures in our lives,” says Tina. “They are not our subordinates, but rather our partners. They can sense things that we, as humans, cannot and it is truly amazing to work with them to make a small difference in someone's life. If we can help an individual who is potentially going through the worst time of their life focus on hope and happy memories, even for a brief time, then we've done our job.”