Therapy Dogs United is proud to offer multiple traveling therapy dog outreach programs designed to help children and young adults. These programs are unique to our organization and can be custom-designed to meet your needs. Contact us to find out how.
At-Risk Families (ARF Program)
Therapy Dogs United brings this program to homeless shelters, group homes and mental health facilities to help children better cope during tough emotional times. This research-based program stresses the importance of humane treatment and compassion for all living things. It's designed to teach the importance of giving back by sharing our pets with those in need. Therapy dog teams working in this outreach program introduce these young adults basic obedience training, and animal safety.
Our PACKS Program (Prevent Attacks with Care, Kindness and Safety) is an educational program designed to teach and reinforce responsible pet ownership with an emphasis on compassion toward animals. Our Pet Educators emphasize responsible pet ownership - including basic pet care and unique lessons in animal humanity. We strive to teach people of all ages basic information about the many ways animals (and people) communicate - and we use the unique human-to-animal bond to teach pet responsibility and respect.
One component of our PACKS Program is our Animal Communication and Bite Prevention Program - a specialized effort to help teach children how to safely approach a dog. Our main goal is to reduce the number of dog-bite injuries and emotional scars affecting children. Ultimately, we hope our effort will help lower medical costs through fewer insurance claims associated with dog bites. Ultimately, we hope to decrease the number of dogs euthanized for biting a child who may have unknowingly provoked the dog.
Our PACKS program is offered as an interactive presentation for mainstream students, grades K-12, and special needs children and adults. Each program is tailored to meet the audience age level and interest, and can be customized to compliment specific subjects. These presentations are available for groups of any kind, including schools, clubs, home schooled groups, and community organizations. Now Available - we have new Dog Bite Safety flyers - call our Erie office to request your information packet. To speak with a PACKS pet educator, call our office at (814) 456-DOGS (3647) or Email us.
Bella's Brigade is best described by two words: comfort and trust. The use of these certified therapy dog teams help open dialogue with victims of sexual abuse or severe emotional abuse - but can also provide comfort to a child grieving the loss of a parent or caregiver. Our certified therapy dogs have been known to "lend a trusting ear" - one that a child quickly realizes he or she can tell anything. When confidentiality is required, this crisis outreach program is able to match an Occupational Handler with an "on site" therapy dog. In 2015, Bella's Brigade was modified to also include our Courthouse Comfort Canine Program which provides emotional support to a child facing a dependency hearing in County Court.
