Past Initiatives

Every one of our programs fill a specific need at a specific time. As an organization, we frequently pivot to meet the ever changing needs of people and their dogs and to make sure our work is consistent with current canine science.

Below is a brief history of some of our past programs.

Service Dogs

shelter dogs can do the work of purebred/purpose
bred dogs

Through our service dog program, we upend society’s expectations about people with disabilities and their service dogs. 

Service Dog Success Stories

Thanks to a grant from Petco Love, three of our service dog handlers, all with different disabilities, got to tell their story about how their service dog changed their life.

“The impact of the service program that we have is much bigger than anyone could imagine because it’s not just the individual dogs and the individual people; their families get to see them thrive, the dogs are in communities that get to see them thrive, we get to work with shelters and see other animals thrive…”

PAWS OF PURPOSE

JAIL DOG PROGRAM AT RIKERS ISLAND IN NY

We know that the bond between dogs and people cannot only be healing, it can be life changing. 

Many of our dogs would spend several weeks receiving basic training at Rikers Correctional Facility in New York. The dogs lived with and were cared for by inmates. 

There is research that shows that programs like PAWS reduce recidivism in jails and have positive mental health effects for both the dogs and the people involved.

Pets TOGEter

Virtual pet visits during the pandemic

We started Pets Together as a response to the pandemic. Many, especially those who live in housing facilities like nursing homes or long-term care, were facing dangerous increases in feelings of isolation and loneliness.

With Pets Together, we hosted video chats for those living in long-term care facilities so that they could interact with people and their pets. 

The program has since spun off  as its own entity and is run by Virtual Senior Center.  You can find out more here.

On-site internships

Animal Farm Foundation provided innovative and accessible solutions to the barriers shelters face in sending dogs labeled “pit bulls” home faster. Through our four on-site, no- cost internship programs we supported the people who share our vision of a compassionate world where all dogs are treated as individuals.