Rescued dogs. Second chances.
Canine-assisted programs tailored to correctional and behavioral health settings
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Project PAWS brings Healing Species Texas's specially trained rescued dogs to youth and adults in behavioral health and correctional settings. Each dog was once abandoned, mistreated or overlooked, and each one found a second chance.
Youth and adults
in correctional and behavioral health settings
Specially trained
rescued dogs at the heart of every lesson
Lessons selected
for the needs of your population
Planned with your staff
before the first session
WHY THE DOGS
The dogs are the heart of the program.
Their presence changes the room: shoulders relax, walls come down, and people who might sit back are leaning in. That calm, welcoming connection opens the door to honest conversation and deeper engagement in the work of healing.
What if life's most powerful lessons came from those who have overcome the most?
WHAT PAWS STANDS FOR
Each session builds on four words
P
Purpose
A rescued dog with a job shows that the past doesn't decide the future. Participants are encouraged to discover what gives their own lives meaning and direction.
A
Acceptance
A dog doesn't judge where you've been. That simple, steady acceptance helps participants practice accepting themselves and others.
W
Worth
These dogs were once seen as having no value. Today they are teachers. Their stories remind every participant that they matter, too.
S
Strength
Healing takes courage. The dogs model resilience, trust and perseverance, and show that it's possible to grow stronger after hard times.
AREAS OF FOCUS
Every lesson is matched to the group's needs, and a rescued dog helps carry the message.
Self Awareness
- Recognize the body's warning signs of fear and stress by watching how a dog shows them
- Practice calming skills such as slow breathing and grounding alongside a calm dog
- See how a once-fearful dog learned to feel safe, one small step at a time
Self Worth
- Challenge feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness through the stories of dogs others gave up on
- Build connection, motivation, and moments of joy through the dog's humor and affection
- Find purpose and a reason to keep going, including through the Golden Repair (Kintsugi) lesson
Choice-Making
- Connect choices to consequences through lessons such as Two Wolves
- Learn to pause between impulse and action, using the same skills a dog learns in training
- Take responsibility, right wrongs, and practice making a different choice next time
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Support
- Reinforce the link between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
- Use a rescued dog's learned fears to explore automatic thoughts and old beliefs
- Practice replacing unhelpful thinking, as a dog learns that a new person can be safe
- Give participants a memorable story to carry back into clinical sessions
Competency to Stand Trial Support
- Strengthen attention and participation through engaging, dog-centered activities
- Practice listening, following directions, and communicating clearly
- Build emotional regulation and the ability to stay calm in a structured setting
- Rehearse decision-making and asking for help, in coordination with the clinical team
HOW IT STARTS
Every program begins with your clinicians and supervisors
We visit with your team before implementation, so each program fits the people in your care.
The right lessons
Built and selected to address the needs of your population.
The right dogs
Chosen with your team for your setting and your group.
The right delivery
Planned with your staff to fit how your facility or program works.