The Petbarn Foundation has a big focus on community outreach and mental health and has donated $100k to charity partners Empower Assistance Therapy Dogs to provide vulnerable people in need of emotional support, the therapeutic presence of a furry friend.
Empower Assistance Dogs have been breeding, training, and placing therapy dogs within schools, facilities, and community programs.
They have been able to expand this program with the generous support of the Petbarn Foundation and Greencross Vets. Working together, these 3 organisations are changing the lives of others by using professionally trained therapy dogs to provide emotional support.
Since partnering, the Petbarn Foundation has sponsored 7 Therapy Dogs, 5 of whom have been placed in QLD in primary schools and boarding schools to support vulnerable young people, with the remaining 2 placed to support people in crisis accommodation.
With the support of the Petbarn Foundation and Greencross Vets, Empower Assistance Dogs are teaching dogs how to interact safely and reliably with others, as well as providing therapy to those in the community who may need some emotional support.
Meet Triya, one of our PBF sponsored Empower Assistance Dog.
Triya is a trained therapy dog who has joined the team at Wandi Nerida to provide emotional support to participants. Wandi Nerida is Australia’s first specifically built eating disorder clinic, providing a safe, nurturing and healing space for eating disorder recovery.
