{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,11]],"date-time":"2026-09-11T09:08:33Z","timestamp":1789117713920,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":32,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"18","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,11]],"date-time":"2026-09-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1789084800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Animal-Assisted Crisis Response (AACR) is a specialized form of crisis intervention in which trained handlers and therapy dogs provide emotional support following crises and disasters. Although previous research has examined AACR, less is known about the contribution of the human\u2013canine partnership. This study explored the human\u2013canine partnership and its perceived role in effective crisis response and canine welfare. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews and demographic surveys. Twenty-one crisis responders participated, and interview data were analyzed using Charmaz\u2019s grounded theory approach. Findings suggest that participants perceived a highly trained handler, a carefully selected dog, and the quality of their partnership as important components of effective AACR practice. Canine welfare emerged as a fundamental component of the human\u2013canine partnership, with participants emphasizing the handler\u2019s role in recognizing canine stress cues, safeguarding welfare, and cultivating a strong partnership with the dog. Although bringing a dog to a crisis scene presents practical challenges, participants also described benefits for the team and improved engagement with trauma survivors. These findings support conceptualizing AACR as a welfare-centered human\u2013canine partnership in which handler expertise, canine suitability, and attention to welfare are perceived as important components of effective and ethical crisis-response practice.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani16182857","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,11]],"date-time":"2026-09-11T08:17:42Z","timestamp":1789114662000},"page":"2857","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["The Human\u2013Canine Partnership in Animal-Assisted Crisis Response: A Welfare-Centered Perspective"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-9782-5702","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Batya G.","family":"Jaffe","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University, 2495 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10033, USA"},{"name":"G.I.L.I Lab, Geha Mental Health Medical Center, Helsinki 1, Petah Tikva 49100, Israel"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Eaton-Stull, Y.M. (2020). Animal-Assisted Crisis Response: Specialized Canine Intervention for Individuals Affected by Disasters and Crises, NASW Press."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Heanoy, E.Z., and Brown, N.R. (2024). Impact of natural disasters on mental health: Evidence and implications. Healthcare, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/healthcare12181812"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e49929","DOI":"10.2196\/49929","article-title":"Mobile apps to support mental health response in natural disasters: Scoping review","volume":"26","author":"Ezeonu","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Med. Internet Res."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2638","DOI":"10.1177\/15248380231221492","article-title":"The effectiveness and implementation of psychological first aid as a therapeutic intervention after trauma: An integrative review","volume":"25","author":"Wang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Trauma Violence Abus."},{"key":"ref_5","first-page":"76","article-title":"Dogs bringing comfort in the midst of a national disaster","volume":"15","author":"Graham","year":"2009","journal-title":"Reflections"},{"key":"ref_6","first-page":"49","article-title":"Introduction to working with animal assisted crisis response animal handler teams","volume":"8","author":"Greenbaum","year":"2006","journal-title":"Int. J. Emerg. Ment. Health"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"O\u2019Haire, M.E., Gu\u00e9rin, N.A., and Kirkham, A.C. (2015). Animal-assisted intervention for trauma: A systematic literature review. Front. Psychol., 6.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2015.01121"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"141","DOI":"10.1080\/08927936.2018.1434044","article-title":"Animal-assisted psychotherapy and trauma: A meta-analysis","volume":"31","author":"Germain","year":"2018","journal-title":"Anthrozo\u00f6s"},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"Fine, A.H. (2010). Assistance animals: Their evolving role in psychiatric service applications. Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy: Theoretical Foundations and Guidelines for Practice, Elsevier Academic Press. [3rd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_10","first-page":"19","article-title":"Challenges, coping strategies, and benefits of animal-assisted crisis response following disasters and traumatic events","volume":"7","author":"Jaffe","year":"2024","journal-title":"People Anim. Int. J. Res. Pract."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"452","DOI":"10.1080\/23761407.2016.1166841","article-title":"Animal assisted therapy and trauma survivors","volume":"13","author":"Mims","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Evid.-Inf. Soc. Work"},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"Bua, F. (2013). A Qualitative Investigation into Dogs Serving on Animal-Assisted Crisis Response (AACR) Teams: Advances in Crisis Counselling. [Ph.D. Thesis, La Trobe University]."},{"key":"ref_13","first-page":"1","article-title":"Animal-assisted crisis response: Characteristics of canine handlers and their canine partners","volume":"11","author":"Jaffe","year":"2023","journal-title":"Hum.-Anim. Interact."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bowen, J., Bulbena, A., and Fatj\u00f3, J. (2021). The value of companion dogs as a source of social support for their owners: Findings from a pre-pandemic representative sample and a convenience sample obtained during the COVID-19 lockdown in Spain. Front. Psychiatry, 12.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2021.622060"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e70299","DOI":"10.1111\/nyas.70299","article-title":"Evidence of Physiological Comodulation During Human\u2013Animal Interaction: A Systematic Review","volume":"1560","author":"Bargigli","year":"2026","journal-title":"Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"296","DOI":"10.1016\/S1090-0233(02)00237-X","article-title":"Neurophysiological correlates of affiliative behaviour between humans and dogs","volume":"165","author":"Odendaal","year":"2003","journal-title":"Vet. J."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1021","DOI":"10.1007\/s10071-023-01750-9","article-title":"Behavioural synchronization and social referencing of dogs and humans: Walking in dyad vs in group","volume":"26","author":"Lamontagne","year":"2023","journal-title":"Anim. Cogn."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lamontagne, A., and Gaunet, F. (2024). Behavioural Synchronisation between Dogs and Humans: Unveiling Interspecific Motor Resonance?. Animals, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani14040548"},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"Tedeschi, P., and Jenkins, M.A. (2019). Animal-assisted crisis response: Offering opportunity for human resiliency during and after traumatic incidents. Transforming Trauma: Resilience and Healing Through Our Connections with Animals, Purdue University Press."},{"key":"ref_20","first-page":"70","article-title":"Canine complements to psychological first aid","volume":"7","author":"Sewall","year":"2019","journal-title":"Hum. Anim. Interact. Bull."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"17","DOI":"10.2752\/089279308X274038","article-title":"Therapeutic value of equine\u2013human bonding in recovery from trauma","volume":"21","author":"Yorke","year":"2008","journal-title":"Anthrozo\u00f6s"},{"key":"ref_22","unstructured":"Fine, A.H. (2015). Influence of cultural and religious factors on attitudes toward animals. Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy: Foundations and Guidelines for Animal-Assisted Interventions, Academic Press. [4th ed.]."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Evans, J.J. (2024). Assessing cultural, religious, and trauma influences in human\u2013animal interactions for effective animal-assisted counseling. Animals, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani14172496"},{"key":"ref_24","first-page":"1","article-title":"The role of animal-assisted interventions in addressing trauma-informed care","volume":"15","author":"Stewart","year":"2016","journal-title":"ACA Vistas Spring"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chandler, C.K. (2012). Animal Assisted Therapy in Counseling, Routledge. [2nd ed.].","DOI":"10.4324\/9780203832103"},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"Shubert, J. (2012). Therapy dogs and stress management assistance during disasters. US Army Med. Dep. J., 74\u201378."},{"key":"ref_27","unstructured":"American Veterinary Medical Association (2026, July 24). AVMA Policy: Human\u2013Animal Bond. Available online: https:\/\/www.avma.org."},{"key":"ref_28","unstructured":"Sypniewski, S. (2021). How the Therapy Dogs Saved Us: Behind the Scenes Healing from 9\/11, Therapy Dogs International."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Grynkiewicz, A., Reinholz, A., and Imbir, K. (2026). Entangled Bonds: Dyadic Dependence and Co-Regulation in Western Urban Human\u2013Dog Relationships. Animals, 16.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani16050715"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Glenk, L.M., and Foltin, S. (2021). Therapy dog welfare revisited: A review of the literature. Vet. Sci., 8.","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci8100226"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Jaffe, B.G. (2022). Animal-Assisted Crisis Response in Israel. [Doctoral Dissertation, Yeshiva University].","DOI":"10.1079\/9781800622616.0014"},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"Charmaz, K. (2014). Constructing Grounded Theory, SAGE Publications. [2nd ed.]."}],"container-title":["Animals"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/16\/18\/2857\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,11]],"date-time":"2026-09-11T08:41:08Z","timestamp":1789116068000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/16\/18\/2857"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,11]]},"references-count":32,"journal-issue":{"issue":"18","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9]]}},"alternative-id":["ani16182857"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ani16182857","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-2615"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-2615","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,11]]}}}