352171065_1452891815456250_736132333224930427_n

Crisis Canines of the Midlands is partnering with Knoxville Raceway on Saturday to showcase the organization as part of the weekly sprint car races.

Crisis Canines of the Midlands (CCM) provides highly trained and certified crisis response canine teams to support first responders and communities navigating the aftermath of critical incidents, trauma, and disaster. Marion County has four trained crisis canines currently and has two more that will be coming onto the force. These canines undergo significant training to be able to assist in crisis situations and the organization is continuing to try and gain exposure in our local community. 

On Saturday at Knoxville Raceway race fans will be able to ask questions, and get to know the canines and their handlers as they will be roaming around the track, have a booth set up, have giveaways, and shirts available for purchase as a way to further promote their “A Main Canines”. The event is also a way for citizens to make donations to financially support the organization. Emily Feagins with Marion County Emergency Management who is a handler in training says the event Saturday is a great way to build relationships with first responders and their Crisis Canines.

“Our biggest thing with Saturday is just letting people ask the questions, get to know our canines, getting to know our handlers. The biggest thing is breaking that stigma between first responders and citizens of the county. We just want to build those relationships and hopefully we can build those relationships before something happens where you need that interaction.”

If you would like to donate to Crisis Canines of the Midlands you can follow this link. Hear more about the event and Crisis Canines of the Midlands from Feagins on today’s Let’s Talk Knoxville.