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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

30,773
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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!

# 30,500:

9:05 am PDT, May 13, Lindsay Baber, Massachusetts

# 30,499:

8:21 am PDT, May 13, Dana Humphreys Oldham, Pennsylvania
This is true! Please create this legislation and DO MORE to STOP removing children from the custody of a protective parent, who has protected her children against sexual and physical and emotional abuse! Protect the children and keep the child and protective parents together. Read NCJFCJ.org

# 30,498:

1:34 am PDT, May 13, Biljana Djeric, Bosnia And Herzegovina

# 30,497:

9:59 pm PDT, May 12, Cynthia Anderson, California

# 30,496:

9:20 pm PDT, May 12, Sherry Parker, Texas

# 30,495:

9:15 pm PDT, May 12, Criss Harris, Indiana

# 30,494:

8:35 pm PDT, May 12, Tanya Goodman, Florida

# 30,493:

7:13 pm PDT, May 12, Amanda Alsborg, California

# 30,492:

6:46 pm PDT, May 12, Kelly Moyer, Nebraska

# 30,491:

6:41 pm PDT, May 12, Donna Williams, Ohio

# 30,490:

6:28 pm PDT, May 12, Name not displayed, Nevada

# 30,489:

6:27 pm PDT, May 12, Rachel Hook Iovino, Florida

# 30,488:

6:01 pm PDT, May 12, Karen Hansen, New York

# 30,487:

5:00 pm PDT, May 12, Doris Radcliff, Delaware

# 30,486:

2:35 pm PDT, May 12, Edward J.Tylutki, New Jersey

# 30,485:

1:59 pm PDT, May 12, John Nulty, California

# 30,484:

11:51 am PDT, May 12, Samantha Klod, Illinois
I have not had the priviledge to see this up close and personal. But I've been a third party witness to this amazing phenomenon time after time. What a beautiful gifts-both ways!

# 30,483:

11:29 am PDT, May 12, Patty O'Connor, Pennsylvania

# 30,482:

11:14 am PDT, May 12, Tammy Warner, California

# 30,481:

10:01 am PDT, May 12, Maureen Shearer, Virginia

# 30,480:

9:23 am PDT, May 12, Matthew Moore, Oregon

# 30,479:

7:36 am PDT, May 12, April Sanchez, Texas

# 30,478:

6:43 am PDT, May 12, Roxanne Marsico, Pennsylvania

# 30,477:

6:15 am PDT, May 12, Teresa Garner, North Carolina

# 30,476:

5:10 am PDT, May 12, Frances Baio, Florida

# 30,475:

5:10 am PDT, May 12, Dolores Schoonover, Colorado

# 30,474:

11:53 pm PDT, May 11, Radha McAlpine, Florida

# 30,473:

11:27 pm PDT, May 11, JOYCE JACOBSON, Pennsylvania

# 30,472:

9:18 pm PDT, May 11, Nadine Corney, New York

# 30,471:

9:12 pm PDT, May 11, Meg Hood, Virginia

# 30,470:

9:06 pm PDT, May 11, Rose Marie kuhn, California

# 30,469:

9:04 pm PDT, May 11, Connie Manley, New York

# 30,468:

8:47 pm PDT, May 11, Laurie Tautkas, Massachusetts

# 30,467:

7:43 pm PDT, May 11, Sarah Fetterman, Pennsylvania

# 30,466:

7:24 pm PDT, May 11, Jane Roosevelt, Oregon

# 30,465:

7:11 pm PDT, May 11, Linda Chavez, Texas

# 30,464:

6:53 pm PDT, May 11, Toby Zelt, Maryland

# 30,463:

6:21 pm PDT, May 11, Dixie Gideon, Utah

# 30,462:

6:05 pm PDT, May 11, Name not displayed, Florida

# 30,461:

5:38 pm PDT, May 11, Don Wood, Illinois

# 30,460:

5:00 pm PDT, May 11, Trisha Tillman, Florida

# 30,459:

4:54 pm PDT, May 11, Robyn D clark, Florida

# 30,458:

3:54 pm PDT, May 11, Kristi Klein, South Dakota

# 30,457:

3:41 pm PDT, May 11, Sophie Wozniak, Minnesota

# 30,456:

3:18 pm PDT, May 11, Sunny Romer, California

# 30,455:

3:18 pm PDT, May 11, Cheryl Mclaughlin, Pennsylvania

# 30,454:

3:10 pm PDT, May 11, Tracy Kalkwarf, Texas

# 30,453:

2:56 pm PDT, May 11, Name not displayed, California

# 30,452:

2:44 pm PDT, May 11, Mary Ernst, South Carolina

# 30,451:

2:43 pm PDT, May 11, Aaeron Robb, Maryland

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