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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

30,749
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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!

# 30,650:

3:07 pm PDT, Jun 16, Sara Lawrence, Missouri

# 30,649:

12:40 pm PDT, Jun 16, Jakub Coltun, California

# 30,648:

9:08 am PDT, Jun 12, Angela Cochran, Kentucky

# 30,647:

9:24 pm PDT, Jun 11, Jaime Trainer, West Virginia

# 30,646:

10:40 am PDT, Jun 8, Debbie Ricciotti, Florida

# 30,645:

8:43 am PDT, Jun 8, Clara Burton, Michigan

# 30,644:

3:23 am PDT, Jun 8, Katie JS Warthen, California

# 30,643:

9:27 am PDT, Jun 7, Karen Blaker, Georgia
My daughter had surgery recently and was able to have a visit with a therapy dog. Although Katie was in pain, she looked forward to and cherished the visit .

# 30,642:

9:19 am PDT, Jun 7, Ingrid Marx, Wisconsin

# 30,641:

9:12 am PDT, Jun 7, Anne Burnett, Iowa

# 30,640:

1:24 am PDT, Jun 7, Stephanie Ray, New Zealand
This really does work, not only in the abuse side of cases, but general behaviour and reading issues, it's just wonderful.

# 30,639:

2:19 pm PDT, Jun 6, Leonda Mocanu, Massachusetts

# 30,638:

6:01 pm PDT, Jun 5, Elizabeth Lincoln, Massachusetts

# 30,637:

2:27 pm PDT, Jun 5, John D'Ambra, New Jersey
No it is not "just a dog". These incredible creatures teach ALL of us for whom they are part of our lives, the beauty of patience, loyalty, forgiveness, BEING THERE ALL THE TIME, and so much more. They are the chosen ones; and the beuty of Laura's experience reflects that... (P.S. PLEASE do not use my words to consider adding a dog to your own family UNLESS YOU HAVE THE TIME AND RESOURCES to give these creatures the love and respect they deserve).

# 30,636:

11:41 am PDT, Jun 5, Leila Dethlefsen, Utah

# 30,635:

9:58 am PDT, Jun 5, Tommie Denson, Texas

# 30,634:

9:51 am PDT, Jun 5, Yvonne Clark, Pennsylvania

# 30,633:

4:56 am PDT, Jun 5, Ay Green, United Kingdom

# 30,632:

1:00 am PDT, Jun 5, Theresa Thomas, California

# 30,631:

9:31 pm PDT, Jun 4, Caroline Darst, Massachusetts
I could go on and on - there is something about animals that children trust SO MUCH.

# 30,630:

6:54 pm PDT, Jun 4, Lisa DiGiorgi, Rhode Island
Yes This is VERY TRUE, I and Many others have seen it with our own two eyes. Believe this they are more in tune the WE are !!!!!!!

# 30,629:

6:28 pm PDT, Jun 4, Sara Habis, Florida

# 30,628:

5:13 pm PDT, Jun 4, Erin Coupland, Florida

# 30,627:

4:24 pm PDT, Jun 4, Linda Bolander, Colorado

# 30,626:

9:20 am PDT, Jun 4, Patricia Tanttila, California

# 30,625:

9:02 am PDT, Jun 4, Hannah Koester, Missouri

# 30,624:

8:36 am PDT, Jun 4, Abbie Herrick, New Hampshire
The dogs I had as a kid have always helped. Heidi, a German Shepherd mix would get in the middle of a family fight and cry as if to beg my father to hit her instead of me and Kaiser, a huge black lab mix was always there to comfort me.

# 30,623:

9:52 pm PDT, Jun 3, Name not displayed, Michigan

# 30,622:

8:54 pm PDT, Jun 3, Autumn Chamberlin, Washington

# 30,621:

11:04 am PDT, Jun 3, Name not displayed, Indiana

# 30,620:

1:38 am PDT, Jun 3, Dannielle Potts, United Kingdom
What this assocciation is doing is amazing. I went through something similar in 2003 and was given a dog ... That dog changed my life and now I am committed to helping animals because they've helped me. I know what this girl went through and how important some stability was to her.

# 30,619:

5:32 pm PDT, Jun 2, Stacy Knox, California
I have experienced animals helping me heal from countless troubles both as a child, adolescent, and adult. Pure magic. Animals are divine gifts from God. The unconditional love of a dog (or cat or other animal) has tremendous powers to heal a broken soul.

# 30,618:

3:29 pm PDT, Jun 2, Andrea Zivkovic, Serbia And Montenegro

# 30,617:

5:46 am PDT, Jun 2, Andrew Gould, New York

# 30,616:

10:14 pm PDT, Jun 1, Bea Boado, New York

# 30,615:

9:14 pm PDT, May 30, Diana Ely, Ohio

# 30,614:

3:52 pm PDT, May 30, Name not displayed, Nevada

# 30,613:

10:16 pm PDT, May 29, KIM RYDER, Florida

# 30,612:

3:09 pm PDT, May 28, Devan Schlueter, Minnesota

# 30,611:

3:03 pm PDT, May 28, Claudia Santillan, Nevada

# 30,610:

9:29 am PDT, May 28, John Hatton, Vermont

# 30,609:

5:54 am PDT, May 27, Liz Lichner, Virginia

# 30,608:

7:35 am PDT, May 26, Jennifer Heneghan, Florida

# 30,607:

4:28 pm PDT, May 25, Madeline Schindel, Pennsylvania

# 30,606:

11:35 am PDT, May 25, Iris Chynoweth, California

# 30,605:

8:13 am PDT, May 25, Danielle LeBoeuf, Florida
It really honestly works!!

# 30,604:

10:58 am PDT, May 23, Margaret Tollner, California

# 30,603:

6:43 am PDT, May 23, Drucilla Smith, Minnesota

# 30,602:

5:33 am PDT, May 23, Carol Smith, New York

# 30,601:

4:22 am PDT, May 23, Ken Johnson, Massachusetts

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