12/03/2025
K9 Chaos and his handler Philip were apart of our graduating class this fall. It has been fun meeting them and working with them this year!
Press Release --- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sagadahoc County Emergency Management Aims To Bring
Bath, Maine – Sagadahoc County Emergency Management (SCEMA) has welcomed its newest employee to ensure the community is more resilient before, during, and after a crisis happens. But this is no ordinary employee. This employee has a wet nose, fur, and four legs. SCEMA is proud to introduce K9 Chaos, a one-year-old golden retriever, who is there to bring when disaster strikes. K9 Chaos has become Maine’s first and only Crisis Response Canine.
In early October, K9 Chaos and his handler, EMA Director Philip Davis, completed extensive specialized training in crisis intervention, emotional stabilization, behavioral assessment, and effective engagement during critical incidents to become Maine’s only certified Crisis Response Canine team. This specialized training allows K9 Chaos to assist first responders and community members during high-stress, traumatic, or emotionally challenging situations.
Known affectionately by his public outreach tagline: , K9 Chaos has already shown our state how adding crisis response canines into a situation can bring support services almost immediately. Having a calm and steady influence to emergency scenes where individuals may be coping with trauma, shock, or acute stress is what makes people welcome K9 Chaos into their lives.
“People experience stress and trauma in all different ways, but during an emergency, people react completely different,” said Sagadahoc County EMA Director, Philip Davis. “Chaos brings an innovative, yet effective way to help everyone, including first responders and those impacted by the crisis, deal with the stress and trauma. He brings a level of comfort and grounding that is truly remarkable.” Davis goes on to say, “In the aftermath of a crisis, a moment of calm can make all the difference for someone. Chaos provides that moment for everyone.”
“His job is to bring comfort when people need it the most – that’s the heart behind ,’ said Davis, Chaos’s certified handler. “It is incredible to watch how people visibly relax as they interact with Chaos, some might even say as they embrace Chaos.”
By integrating the crisis response canine team into our emergency management operations, SCEMA continues to expand innovative support services designed to help communities navigate crisis events. Chaos will be deployed to a variety of emergency and community support settings, including but not limited to:
• Disaster scenes and large emergencies
• Incidents involving emotional or psychological impact on first responders
• Community-wide traumatic events
• Post-incident recovery operations
• Emergency Shelters
• Community Outreach and resilience-building initiatives
• Peer support during Critical Stress Incident Management Team deployments
• School emergency drills and exercises
Residents can follow the journey of Chaos and the impact that this program has on our community using the hashtag on social media and at community events throughout the state. The Sagadahoc County Emergency Management Agency is committed to building resilience, enhancing preparedness, and ensuring the safety and well-being of all residents.
For more information about Sagadahoc County Emergency Management Agency, the crisis response canine program, or to request K9 Chaos for outreach or to support events, please contact Sagadahoc County EMA by calling (207) 443-8210 or by email at scema@sgadahoccountyme.gov. Together, we can bring when our community needs it most.
