Knoxville Fire Department Crisis K9 Max was sworn in at the Knoxville City Council meeting Monday night.

Max is currently in training to become a crisis response K9 for the Knoxville Fire Department, and he received his official oath of office from Mayor Brian Hatch on Monday. He was asked to raise his right paw, and then his badge was pinned on him by Battalion Chief Trenton Bacus. Max will continue to work toward his K9 therapy training as he is on track to graduate the program in the spring. 

Mayor Hatch expressed gratitude at the meeting for all of the different appearances Max has made in the community. The mission of Crisis K9’s is to facilitate and coordinate the implementation of Crisis Response Therapy Dog Teams in first responder agencies, so that these teams may provide Animal Assisted Crisis Response within their communities to support the mental health of individuals affected by and responding to crises and disasters.