Green Chimneys Receives Third Grant from the Petco Foundation for Dog Interaction Program

Finding Focus and Living in the Present

November 7, 2019

February 23, 2017

For the third year in a row, Green Chimneys has received a grant from the Petco Foundation’s Helping Heroes in-store fundraising campaign in partnership with Natural Balance. This year’s increased grant of $7,500 recognizes the value of Green Chimneys’ engaging Dog Interaction Program and enables us to keep it strong.

Piloted in 2014, the Dog Interaction Program has become a popular – and permanent – addition to Green Chimneys’ animal-assisted therapy program. Under a professional trainer’s supervision, our students help socialize shelter dogs, thus, improving their chances for adoption. During their 6-week training session, the canine “students” live on campus 24/7 and have frequent contact with our children and staff. You can see them visiting class rooms, participating in therapy sessions, enjoying time with teens at our Arbor House shelter and even “starring” in off-campus events including hospital visits.

The best news is the great success the program has had!

To date, we’ve had 92 canine “graduates” and nearly all them have found permanent loving homes. The adopting families, students and Green Chimneys staff have all benefited and we’re quite certain, based on their frisky and friendly behavior that the dogs have as well. A few quotes say it all:

“The students who walk the dogs, groom, train, feed and play with them, develop a higher level of self-esteem and an improved sense of responsibility…” Lisa, Clinical Services

“Gavin [a Labrador mix] has enabled my daughter to shift her focus away from some of her anxieties and place it on loving and caring for her new friend…” Sharon, Adoptive Mother

“By connecting and caring for a dog, the teen’s level of stress decreases so they can make better decisions…” Hillary, Social Worker, Community Based Services

We are so grateful to the Petco Foundation for their support of this innovative program.
Learn more about our Dog Interaction Program

Brook Lyn the Sheep

Found abandoned in a box with her brother in Brooklyn, NY, this sheep was rescued as a newborn. After she was stabilized by a wildlife rehabilitator, she was driven up to Green Chimneys Farm where the children hand fed her with bottles of warm milk. The responsibility of becoming a caretaker for a little animal like Brook Lyn gives students a chance to recognize their own ability to make a contribution. Many of the children have been “taken care” of all of their lives by caring parents, concerned teachers and mental health staff, but stepping up and holding a bottle for this little orphan lamb transforms them from service receivers to service providers.