This organization uses therapy dogs to help stressed out humans

**media[27130]**The link between pets and mental health has been extensively studied, with research showing that interacting with animal friends can play a positive role in one’s psychological well-being. One social enterprise is bringing therapy dogs to groups that need extra TLC, especially during particularly stressful times.Communitails was founded in 2016 by a group of health and human service professionals who believed that fostering mutually healing relationships with animals and humans will enhance the quality of life for both. The organization pioneered animal-assisted interventions in the Philippines.**media[27129]**“We cater to individuals, to groups, institutions such as schools, offices, hospitals, and even shelters,” said human-animal team member (therapy dog handler) and former Communitails Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) Coordinator Bettina Coz. “We also have lectures, trainings, and workshops that advance the awareness of the human-animal bond and its benefits, as well as animal welfare advocacy, responsible pet ownership, and mental health awareness.”Furry stress reliefCoz narrates what a typical visit entails. “They would invite us to get wellness or stress relief programs and we… tailor fit [the program] to what they need and… through that, we do activities that foster wellness.”Interacting with therapy dogs help participants lower their stress and anxiety levels and help them feel safe. “The benefits of the human animal bond… is not limited to interactions with pets, but also to these small or short interactions with therapy dogs. One of the many benefits is the release of the hormone oxytocin… the hug hormone. It's the same hormone that is released between mother and child. The bond really is very strong, and it promotes feelings of safety [and] belongingness,” Coz said.The chosen onesThe therapy dogs are chosen for their temperament, and it’s actually the handlers who are trained to facilitate and implement animal-assisted interventions.**media[27131]**“When they feel that… they have the skills and the aptitude to be a therapy dog handler… that's when we evaluate whether or not their dog is fit for the work,” she explained. “We want to make sure… that the dog is not just obedient and controllable, but actually enjoys interacting with other people and going to different places… because we don't want the benefits to be one-sided to just the humans. The animals also have to have a positive experience…. Otherwise, the success of the whole field… won’t come to any fruition. The enjoyment of both the animals and the humans is what's going to keep the quality of these interactions.”Coz herself joined Communitails after graduating with a degree in BS Biology in 2021, triggered by the loss of a furry companion. Now a law student, she continues to engage in Communitails activities with Yugo, her four-year-old Corgi. “Every therapy dog is different. Some do tricks, some do showmanship, or play. This one… just lies down in the middle and says, ‘Come and cuddle me. I know you're gonna love it.’”The current roster Communitails currently works with about 15 human-animal teams, with each session limited to an hour of human-animal interaction to ensure that the dogs don’t get tired or stressed.**media[27132]**“The organization is quite small and the awareness of our work isn't out there yet, [and] the standards are quite high because of this kind of work is rather delicate,” Coz explained. “If we don't have high standards for both the human and the dog, and we deal with these vulnerable populations, then it might stop all our operations entirely…. We want to still raise the competencies and skills of people through our training.”The response to these animal-assisted interventions have been overwhelmingly positive. “When life can get really hard, things can get pretty dark, and then you have a furry companion who will love you unconditionally, who is never going to judge you, and then there's their human who is trying to foster your connection with that animal…. In people's hardest times or when they feel most down, that's when they need the connection of something.”**media[27134]**Coz continued, “I have this little exercise where I say, ‘lahat ng hindi mo masabi sa kahit kanino, ibulong mo na lang sa aso ko (Whisper everything you can’t tell anyone to my dog).’ And that's when you get a lot of the more emotional reactions… And then they will just tell me, ‘Salamat po ate, hindi ko po masabi ito sa bahay (Thank you, I can’t tell this to anyone at home).’”Future plansCommunitails is currently transitioning from social enterprise to a nonprofit organization called the Philippines Human Animal Bond Institute, though its trade name remains the same.Interested parties may find out more through communitails.com or through the organization’s Facebook and Instagram pages.“We're open to anyone. We want to get out there as much as possible,” Coz said. “The human animal bond, we believe, is for everyone.”(Photos courtesy of Bettina Coz and Communitails)