September 07, 2025

OWLS program ‘Crisis Canines of the Midlands’

Learn how this program pairs First Responders with certified Therapy Dogs to provide Animal Assisted Crisis Response to those who respond to and are affected by critical incidents within their communities.

Learn how this program pairs First Responders with certified Therapy Dogs to provide Animal Assisted Crisis Response to those who respond to and are affected by critical incidents within their communities.

Jasper County Conservation Board will host an Older, Wiser, Livelier Seniors (OWLS) program at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13 at the Jasper County Armory/Annex Building in Newton. The public is invited to come for coffee and a program given by Captain Steve Ashing of the Newton Fire Department. Ashing will be joined by his partner in training, K9 River, who is a certified therapy dog. They will present how this new program is pairing First Responders with certified therapy dogs to provide Animal Assisted Crisis Response to those who respond to and are affected by critical incidents within their communities.

The OWLS program is a conservation program that encourages seniors to stay active and learn new things about the natural world.

Contact the Jasper County Conservation Board office at 641-792-9780 for more information.