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Animals Who Heal Children

Sponsored by: American Humane Association
Ten-year-old Laura* had been the victim of sexual and emotional abuse. After being removed from her unsafe home, she was placed in foster care, but the emotional scars from her ordeal were taking a toll and she was placed in a mental health program. Her difficult road to healing began with the support of another specialist trained in such matters – a dog named Rigo!

Over the weeks and months of Laura's counseling, her trust in Rigo grew steadily. And one day, a breakthrough occurred. With her arms wrapped around Rigo for comfort and security, Laura whispered in his ear, describing in graphic detail her horror of abuse.

Operating as a program of American Humane Association, Denver Pet Partners provides animal-assisted activities and animal-assisted therapy to clients such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, hospice, schools, mental health centers and more.

Animals have the power to heal - sign this pledge to support Denver Pet Partners and other animal-assisted therapy programs!

*This is a true story. The child's name has been changed for her privacy.
deadline: Ongoing...
goal: 30,000
 
30,775
signatures!

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(This is a pledge petition – your signature reflects your support of this initiative, but your signature will not be sent to any target.)

Just 10 years old, Laura* had been the victim of sexual and emotional abuse. Her difficult road to healing would take time and support, as well as the help of another specialist trained in such matters -- a dog!

After being removed from her unsafe home, Laura was placed in foster care, but the emotional scars from her ordeal were taking a toll. Her behavior suffered, and she was unable to function in a regular school, so she wound up in a mental health program. It was there that she met a therapy dog named Rigo and his handler, Diana -- a trained Pet Partners® team that would help Laura take her first step toward healing.

Animal-assisted therapy can provide the spark that helps children and adults recover from physical and emotional injury.

When Laura first saw the big, black dog, her eyes lit up. She was thrilled to make a new, furry friend. Over the weeks and months of Laura's counseling, her trust in Rigo and Diana grew steadily. And one day, a breakthrough occurred. With her arms wrapped around Rigo for comfort and security, Laura whispered in his ear, describing in graphic detail her horror of abuse.

Opening up about her experience opened the door to Laura's healing. During her year of working with her therapist and Pet Partners team, she learned how to build a healthy relationship with another being, how to feel safe and how to stay safe. Laura was able to re-enter public school and lead the type of life every child deserves. Soon after, she began preparing for adoption into a loving family.

The value of the human-animal bond is perhaps no more evident than in situations like Laura's. That's why American Humane has joined forces with Denver Pet Partners to provide direct services in animal-assisted therapy and animal-assisted activities.

*This is a true story. The child's name has been changed for her privacy.

We signed the “Animals Who Heal Children” petition!
# 30,050:
8:02 am PDT, May 1, Martha Ordonez, Texas
# 30,049:
7:33 am PDT, May 1, Doris Chapman, California
# 30,048:
5:47 am PDT, May 1, Gina Mattachione, Florida
# 30,047:
4:26 am PDT, May 1, Susan Jackson, Ohio
# 30,046:
12:05 am PDT, May 1, Nicole Strathmann, Missouri
# 30,045:
10:15 pm PDT, Apr 30, Helen L. Becerra, Georgia
# 30,044:
9:25 pm PDT, Apr 30, Valerie D, California
# 30,043:
8:52 pm PDT, Apr 30, Mark Stone, Ohio
I am unsure about how it works for other people. I do know that having my dogs has helped me greatly. There is an ad on t.v. for a medicene called "Cymbalta" which has a dog in the background and it reminded me of my dog's, or kid's as I affectionately think of them. LOL... I had a major back surgery and had done very little in the way of any exercise at all. I now walk them daily around my neighborhood and it has helped me become stronger and more physically fit and active since I started 2 years ago. I am very grateful for my "kids" because without them, I don't know what I would have done. They give me a reason to wake up each day. Sad as it may seem, it's the truth. Well thats my story about my dogs.
# 30,042:
8:20 pm PDT, Apr 30, Joy Mjolhus, North Dakota
# 30,041:
8:17 pm PDT, Apr 30, Ruby Sears, Oregon
# 30,040:
8:14 pm PDT, Apr 30, Samantha Trosky, Illinois
Again and again there are more stories speaking of the power of healing that animals posses and they should be used more often.
# 30,039:
8:08 pm PDT, Apr 30, Amanda Layton, Colorado
# 30,038:
7:23 pm PDT, Apr 30, Katherine S. Mabry, South Carolina
# 30,037:
7:04 pm PDT, Apr 30, Julie Doiron, Texas
# 30,036:
5:27 pm PDT, Apr 30, Elizabeth Logan, Connecticut
# 30,035:
3:58 pm PDT, Apr 30, Carol Olah, Virginia
Animals work wonders. Just the presence of animals calms those that have anxieties. They have help children some out of the self made shell. Helped people to cope. My own animals are my comfort. Living without animals is sad. Many dogs like Rigo are being trained to help children like Laura. Animals are God's miracle workers.
# 30,034:
3:37 pm PDT, Apr 30, Name not displayed, Virginia
# 30,033:
1:35 pm PDT, Apr 30, Pat Salmans, Colorado
# 30,032:
11:39 am PDT, Apr 30, Name not displayed, Poland
# 30,031:
10:41 am PDT, Apr 30, Chet Ayres, California
# 30,030:
9:43 am PDT, Apr 30, N.K. Acevedo, Massachusetts
# 30,029:
8:56 am PDT, Apr 30, Charissa Dryman, South Carolina
# 30,028:
8:25 am PDT, Apr 30, TERRIE LINDNER, New Jersey
# 30,027:
8:09 am PDT, Apr 30, Ann Rosenwasser, Kansas
# 30,026:
4:04 am PDT, Apr 30, LEJON Christine, France
# 30,025:
11:09 pm PDT, Apr 29, Stephanie Colson, Oklahoma
# 30,024:
10:25 pm PDT, Apr 29, Dixie Estes, Arizona
# 30,023:
9:57 pm PDT, Apr 29, Peg Nejedly, Wisconsin
# 30,022:
8:33 pm PDT, Apr 29, Laura MacMillan, Michigan
Yes, as a young child being adopted was difficult transition for me until the new family got a pet dog .It helped my transition to the new family so I can say first hand I know how much a pet can help a child heal.
# 30,021:
8:29 pm PDT, Apr 29, Teresa Berry, Wisconsin
# 30,020:
8:23 pm PDT, Apr 29, Linda Luke, Georgia
# 30,019:
7:26 pm PDT, Apr 29, Latrece Barcik, Georgia
# 30,018:
7:24 pm PDT, Apr 29, Laurie Keick, California
# 30,017:
6:27 pm PDT, Apr 29, Megan DePerro, New York
I work with street and foster children and they are much closer to animals than to most people, especially street children.
# 30,016:
5:35 pm PDT, Apr 29, Name not displayed, California
# 30,015:
4:35 pm PDT, Apr 29, Michelle Gomillion, Florida
# 30,014:
4:23 pm PDT, Apr 29, Name not displayed, Pennsylvania
# 30,013:
4:12 pm PDT, Apr 29, Name not displayed, Florida
# 30,012:
2:59 pm PDT, Apr 29, Kelley Jarvis, Ohio
# 30,011:
2:01 pm PDT, Apr 29, Donavon Rush, Virginia
# 30,010:
1:51 pm PDT, Apr 29, Natasha Polychuk, Canada
# 30,009:
1:40 pm PDT, Apr 29, Michaela Koch, United Kingdom
# 30,008:
12:28 pm PDT, Apr 29, Kimberly Lyman, Virginia
# 30,007:
11:18 am PDT, Apr 29, David Marcy, Oregon
# 30,006:
11:09 am PDT, Apr 29, Linda Klix, South Carolina
# 30,005:
10:00 am PDT, Apr 29, Sean Gee, Washington D.C.
# 30,004:
9:39 am PDT, Apr 29, Name not displayed, Kansas
# 30,003:
9:25 am PDT, Apr 29, Paul Daniels, Virginia
# 30,002:
9:23 am PDT, Apr 29, Jeanette White, California
# 30,001:
9:07 am PDT, Apr 29, Paul Lorenz, Kentucky
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