The PET-P.A.L. Program is the Law Center’s animal-assisted therapy program. Conducted by Alison and her certified therapy dog, Marley, the program uses dogs as intervention tools to teach maltreated children positive social behavior. PET-P.A.L. includes individual therapy and a group therapy shelter program.
10-week individual therapy sessions focus on positive communication, responsibility, empathy, and anger management. Because Marley was abused by his former owners, the youth are able to connect with him in a personal way and therapists can use his story as a bridge to discuss our clients’ pasts. Children also learn positive reinforcement and how their behavior impacts others by teaching Marley tricks.
The Shelter Program pairs foster youth with canines up for adoption at a local shelter. For 12 weeks, seven to ten youth use positive reinforcement to teach their dogs basic obedience. Each week after training their dogs, the children come together for group therapy to connect what they’ve taught their dog to their own behaviors. The program concludes with a graduation ceremony at which the children present their dogs to their new adopted family, demonstrate the dogs’ obedience and terminate the relationship in a positive way. Through the program, the children bond with their dogs learn positive social behavior, and understand the adoption process.
