Imagine, if you will, a mass casualty incident aboard one of the Pictured Rocks Tour boats. More than 40 people are injured, 10 die.

That was the challenge facing multiple agencies in the Operation Superior Shield full-scale exercise held June 16-17 in Munising.

Coordinated by the United States Coast Guard as part of its ongoing disaster planning, HOPE Animal Assisted Crisis Response — funded by a charitable gift from the Superior Health Foundation — was among the first agencies called upon to deploy.

(See full article by Superior Health Foundation here)