First Responder Therapy k9 Teams
First Responder Therapy K9 Teams are widely known to provide a great amount of comfort, love, and support during times of difficulty and struggle. These teams are trained to provide support during a variety of critical incident needs and are often happy to participate in times of celebration. Working with K9s owned by first responder handlers brings an extra level of confidence that you are in company of someone who understands your field of work and the situation you might be facing.
therapy K9 Team Response
Therapy K9 Team response can be very beneficial for first responders. Beyond the times these teams provide comfort to community members, K9’s and their handlers can provide specific first responder support during times of:
- Critical Incident Response
- Line of Duty Death or Injury Response
- Memorials or Funerals to honor the fallen
- Department Family Days or Social Engagements
- First Responder Social Events
Seeking to request the support of a First Responder Therapy K9 Team? Reach out to Chief Program Officer Meg Krase at programs@100clubil.org or by cell phone in case of emergency 847-727-6503.
All canines participating in the 100 Club of Illinois Therapy Dog Team must successfully complete and provide proof of passing the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test prior to participating in therapy dog certification testing.
Scroll to see volunteer training and handler requirements.
Meet Our Team!
The 100 Club of Illinois is an AKC recognized therapy dog organization.
The American Kennel Club is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to upholding the integrity of its Registry, advocating for purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. The AKC has provided a national certification to the 100 Club of Illinois, making their dogs eligible for the AKC Therapy Dog title.
Volunteer Training & Handling Requirements
Handler Requirements
Handlers must:
- Be an approved volunteer or representative of the 100 Club of Illinois
- Complete all required organizational orientation and volunteer onboarding requirements
- Agree to follow all confidentiality, professionalism, and conduct expectations established by the organization
- Maintain appropriate personal and professional boundaries while representing the organization
Canine Requirements
All therapy dogs must:
- Successfully pass the required therapy dog certification evaluation
- Provide proof of passing the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test prior to therapy dog testing
- Maintain current vaccinations and annual veterinary examinations
- Provide up-to-date medical and vaccination records
- Be clean, groomed, healthy, and fit for visitation activities
- Demonstrate safe, non-aggressive, and emotionally stable behavior in all environments
Critical Incident Response Requirements
Due to the sensitive and high-impact nature of critical incident response work, only handlers who have completed the ICISF Individual in Crisis and Group Crisis Intervention Courses and are active members of the 100 Club of Illinois CISM Team may be deployed or requested for:
- Critical Incident Stress Debriefings (CISD)
- Defusing
- Crisis response activations
- Other trauma-response deployments deemed appropriate by leadership
Therapy dog teams may not self-deploy to incidents, scenes, hospitals, memorials, or agencies without authorization from designated 100 Club leadership or response coordinators.
Ongoing Training Requirements
To maintain active status, therapy dog teams must complete ongoing training requirements to ensure readiness, professionalism, and safety.
Annual Training Requirements
All therapy dog teams are required to:
- Attend a minimum of three (3) approved training sessions annually
- Complete canine emergency medical or first aid-related training at least once every two (2) years
- Participate in scenario-based or environmental exposure training as scheduled
- Maintain familiarity with crisis response protocols and safety procedures
Operational & Conduct Standards
Handlers are responsible for:
- Maintaining control of their canine at all times
- Monitoring the physical and emotional wellbeing of their canine during deployments
- Removing the canine from situations where stress, fatigue, or overstimulation is observed
- Immediately reporting any bite, scratch, injury, or behavioral concern
- Ensuring equipment is safe and professional in appearance
The following are prohibited during visits or deployments:
- Harsh correction methods
- Retractable/flex leashes
- Aggressive or aversive handling techniques
- Unapproved self-deployment
- Posting confidential or sensitive incident information on social media
Certification & Participation Review
The 100 Club of Illinois reserves the right to:
- Require re-evaluation of any canine or handler team
- Suspend or revoke certification or participation privileges
- Remove teams from deployments or events based on safety, conduct, or performance concerns
- Update training and operational requirements as necessary to maintain program integrity and safety
Certification within the program does not guarantee deployment eligibility for every environment or incident response. Deployment decisions will be based on operational needs, canine suitability, handler readiness, and scene conditions.
If you are interested in learning more about the 100 Club of Illinois Therapy K9 Team, please fill out this form.
Thank you!