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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
 

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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!
# 400:
9:18 am PST, Feb 10, Antoine H, Ohio
# 399:
9:17 am PST, Feb 10, Jeannie Blackwell, Florida
# 398:
9:16 am PST, Feb 10, Sandra D, United Kingdom
# 397:
8:54 am PST, Feb 10, Shawna Mynear, Oregon
# 396:
8:42 am PST, Feb 10, Aradae Raine, New Hampshire
# 395:
8:42 am PST, Feb 10, Becky Smith, Ohio
# 394:
8:32 am PST, Feb 10, Mitzi Aurilio, New York
# 393:
8:32 am PST, Feb 10, Angel Anderson, Wisconsin
# 392:
8:31 am PST, Feb 10, Jane Oberlander, Washington
# 391:
8:26 am PST, Feb 10, Deborah McKinney, Wisconsin
# 390:
8:21 am PST, Feb 10, Cheryl Stinar, Nevada
# 389:
8:15 am PST, Feb 10, Diane Mari, Arizona
# 388:
8:10 am PST, Feb 10, Heather Barss, New Hampshire
# 387:
8:07 am PST, Feb 10, Patti H., Ohio
# 386:
7:56 am PST, Feb 10, Misty Hodges, West Virginia
# 385:
7:44 am PST, Feb 10, AldiLa Cese', Illinois
# 384:
7:33 am PST, Feb 10, Jon Marshall Jr, Alabama
# 383:
7:26 am PST, Feb 10, Michaela Nemeth, Pennsylvania
# 382:
7:24 am PST, Feb 10, Name not displayed, New York
# 381:
7:04 am PST, Feb 10, Whit Scott, North Carolina
# 380:
7:01 am PST, Feb 10, McLyle Reams, Louisiana
# 379:
6:54 am PST, Feb 10, Atul Deshpande, Illinois
# 378:
6:45 am PST, Feb 10, Charles Stewart mclachlan, United Kingdom
# 377:
6:43 am PST, Feb 10, Name not displayed, Ohio
# 376:
6:42 am PST, Feb 10, Shanna Gillenwater, North Carolina
# 375:
6:36 am PST, Feb 10, KAREN GOUGLER, Michigan
ALL I CAN SAY IS WE ARE ONE VERY SICK RACE TO ALLOW THIS STUFF TO HAPPEN!
# 374:
6:33 am PST, Feb 10, Mary Gouker, New Jersey
# 373:
6:24 am PST, Feb 10, Alf ILuvU, United Kingdom
It's amazing what animals can do. They deserve so much more than we give them.
# 372:
6:21 am PST, Feb 10, Anne Seidel, Germany
# 371:
6:15 am PST, Feb 10, Cristina Gayo, Uruguay
Every community should provide this service with animals. Pets have a soothing affect for all, young and old alike.
# 370:
6:09 am PST, Feb 10, Tara Pacifico, Florida
# 369:
6:03 am PST, Feb 10, Virginia Schwartman, Virginia
# 368:
5:52 am PST, Feb 10, Richard Cedor, Texas
Every community should provide this service with animals. Pets have a soothing affect for all, young and old alike.
# 367:
5:15 am PST, Feb 10, Diane Bowers, Arkansas
I volunteer at our local animal shelter. The shelter allows children to also volunteer & spend time with the cats and dogs. I've seen how special this makes them feel, and how important it is for them.
# 366:
5:04 am PST, Feb 10, Name not displayed, New York
# 365:
5:02 am PST, Feb 10, Cecilia Durieux, Switzerland
# 364:
4:52 am PST, Feb 10, Kunihiko OkinaABuddhist priest, Japan
# 363:
4:42 am PST, Feb 10, Liz Duane, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
# 362:
3:59 am PST, Feb 10, Franziska Eber, Germany
# 361:
3:46 am PST, Feb 10, Kathy G, United Kingdom
# 360:
3:42 am PST, Feb 10, Philippe Ducreux, France
# 359:
3:41 am PST, Feb 10, Sharon Hall, Michigan
# 358:
3:21 am PST, Feb 10, Arusa Shaishana, Thailand
# 357:
2:20 am PST, Feb 10, Sana Mashood, India
# 356:
2:08 am PST, Feb 10, Aneta P, Poland
# 355:
1:58 am PST, Feb 10, Tatiana Seia, Portugal
# 354:
1:47 am PST, Feb 10, Ja'Krinda Be'Suvwl, California
# 353:
1:37 am PST, Feb 10, Kimi McIntosh, Canada
# 352:
1:28 am PST, Feb 10, Can Atik, Turkey
# 351:
1:17 am PST, Feb 10, Kayla Kuzniar, Arizona
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