The Human-Animal Connection - TAPAZ

The Human-Animal Connection is an educational training program designed to bring out the best in people and animals. We bring therapy animals to high school students and anyone experiencing stress or compassion fatigue in the line of duty -- Veterans, health care providers, and first responders. Our services are offered free of charge to people and we use a structured method of therapeutic interaction based on mutual respect, gentleness, and empathy with the goal of increasing resilience.

We bring therapy animals to high school students and those experiencing stress or compassion fatigue in the line of duty. We also bring veterans and active duty service members and others to Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) to teach them how to work with shy, under-socialized, or traumatized animals in order to increase their chances of adoption. Our model is based upon the idea of humans helping animals and animals helping people as an effective approach to working with PTSD. We educate participants in therapy dog training and socialization and use relaxation methods that lower stress in both the human and the animal. We teach individuals how to manage their own stress responses through serving animals who may also have experienced adversity. We encourage supervised fostering, selection of the right shelter animal for emotional support and companionship. Thus, we support the shelter's mission of finding loving homes with owners who are educated in the physical, mental, and emotional needs of animals. We also offer our program Canines Teach Compassion to high-school students to teach resilience and social skills.

Testimonials

The Human-Animal Connection is a valuable program for both veterans and active-duty soldiers as it incorporates the idea of service as a healing modality. The idea that veterans who may view themselves as broken in some way can heal through helping shelter animals who may have experienced adversity is innovative and effective. I am impressed with how much animals were partners in profound healing in this program. The humans and the animals were transformed. Dr. Richard Ries, Resiliency Subject Matter Expert, formerly at Tripler Army Medical Center

I was impressed to see how soldiers, who were less likely to open up, would talk and share their thoughts and feelings when one of your therapy animals was present. It was like "open sesame" for the heart to see how much change occurred with even a short interaction. I wish that all soldiers could have a canine buddy to help them cope with the stressors they are facing. Wynona Bice-Stephens, R.N, EdD, formerly at Tripler Army Medical Center

When we did the communicating with the horses -- it was like something I've wanted to experience my whole life. Now I know I can. Lesley W.

This feeling of love with horses, flowing like a river. It's life changing. Matthew G.

Comments for Rincon HIgh School Students in Canines Teach Compassion Program
I like this program a lot. I think it really helps kids who might be feeling bad. Before I started this program with the dogs I was at a loss with life. But being around the dogs made me feel like maybe I'm not and everything might be okay.
Jordyn

This program is amazing. It is very fun and calming. My favorite part is getting to pet the dogs. I also like feeling the calm energy of the dogs.
Lyla

I really love dog therapy because it is mentally relieving without having to actually speak out loud. Sometimes stories flow freely from being comfortable, other times just have a dog sense your stress. It allows for a break in the long day. This year especially, it has added a break in senior year, so I enjoy it a lot.
Ayanna