When the Waldo Canyon fire started in June of 2012, Nancy Trepagnier wanted to help so she brought her two therapy dogs to comfort people at hotels and evacuation centers. Seeing how the dogs were able to console and distract displaced residents helped Nancy recognize a big need for well-trained therapy dogs to be ready to meet the needs of people in distress at a moment’s notice.
From this experience, Nancy founded Go Team Therapy Dogs, a nonprofit organization dedicated to training dogs to be therapy, crisis and airport canines. What started as a local organization has now grown to national and international teams. There are currently 800 active Go Teams that are equipped to respond to everything from school shootings to busy holiday travel at the airport to fires and other natural disasters.
Unique Training
As the founder, executive director and master trainer, Nancy says the key to Go Team’s success is the rigorous training that the dogs receive. The dogs must pass an AKC approved Canine Good Citizen test and be evaluated for fit and pass 20 hours of training with the organization. The training is intense and includes being exposed to loud noises and busy environments to ensure that the dogs have the temperament required to remain calm in stressful situations.
Any dog and handler can try out for the Go Team. They are open to all breeds that are at least one year old and good with people and other dogs. The dogs need to be re-tested in person every year to remain active and make sure they are still a good fit.
Thanks to their extensive training and the organization's desire to give back to the community, Nancy says the Go Team dogs “go wherever they are needed.”
Mission and Meaning
In addition to comforting those in need, being a part of Go Team Therapy Dogs provides meaning for participants. Getting involved with the team is a great way to get parents and kids doing something together. Nancy recalls receiving a letter from the family of a woman who was on hospice, expressing the amazing impact of the therapy dog that climbed up in bed with her and got her talking again at the end of her life.
Nancy founded Go Team in memory of her son. She dreams of having enough dogs to respond to every request for support and would love to see well-trained teams continue to serve across the United States. Her favorite thing is watching the joy that people experience when they interact with the dogs. The team is always looking for new dogs and owners to participate.
“We consider ourselves one big family," Nancy says. "We all end up coming together for the Go Team.”
Website: https://goteamdogs.org/
Facebook + Instagram: @GoTeamTherapyDogs