Divine Canines partners
with Texas Lassos
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divine canines provides free animal assisted therapy services including literacy programs at elementary schools, wounded warrior rehabilitation, and specialized services to health care and residential institutions.
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All of this began in 2004, when a small group of dog lovers banded together and formed divine canines with the goal of sharing the unconditional love of dogs and bringing moments of joy and happiness into the lives of people confined to special needs facilities in Central Texas. We began with a group of five handlers and dogs, one large client – the Austin State Hospital – and a professional dog trainer who kindly agreed to volunteer his time. We now have over 75 dog-handler teams who visit more than 20 facilities and hundreds of children, adults, and elderly persons on a regular basis. divine canines provides animal assisted therapy (AAT) to people of all ages. Our volunteer teams visit children and adults facing various challenges, including mental illness, developmental differences, physical limitations and dementia. Therapeutic interaction with our specially trained canines results in emotional and physical benefits such as improved mood, confidence, communication, relaxation, and trust. Visits to partner facilities are conducted by multiple volunteer teams and last at least one hour. The organization's success is based on two simple premises - one philosophical, the other pragmatic. First, there exists a deep, mysterious bond of healing between humans and their dogs. Second, dog enthusiasts comprise a responsible, dedicated and highly driven volunteer demographic. Our volunteer teams of busy individuals care about their community. They appreciate and want to share the joy and unconditional love their dogs so freely give. |
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