PAWS FOR EMPOWERMENT Animal Advocacy Program

Located in Pittsburgh, PA, Crisis Center North  (CCN) is a community-based, non-profit organization serving victims and survivors of domestic, intimate partner, and teen dating violence in northern and western Allegheny County, PA. CCN's mission is to empower victims of domestic violence and cultivate community attitudes and behaviors that break the cycle of violence.

PAWS FOR EMPOWERMENT BACKGROUND
Established in 2011, the state- and nationally-recognized, award-winning PAWS FOR EMPOWERMENT program employs canine advocates in animal assisted therapy, legal advocacy, and courtroom accompaniment for survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Canine advocates, Penny and Ari, and feline advocate, Thea, provide sympathetic ears and support to help clients better express their emotions and facilitate healing.

PAWS PROGRAM COMPONENTS
The PAWS program has evolved into a high successful service offering four distinct components, including:
--assisting and providing emotional support and comfort to victims during trauma-informed counseling/therapy services (i.e., animal assisted therapy);
--accompanying domestic violence (DV) victims in Allegheny County courtrooms to help them face their perpetrators during Protection From Abuse (PFA) hearings and help find legal recourse;
--an educational component for local veterinarians and animal service providers designed to address the intersection between animal abuse and IPV; and,
--emergency animal care stipends for pets of families impacted by DV.

‍‍PAWS ANIMAL ADVOCATES
Penny, CCN’s first working canine, is a four-pawed, spaniel mix advocate who has a demonstrated commitment to her advocacy work with DV victims. Both CCN staff and the movement at-large owe this canine a debt of gratitude for the ground she has traversed in demonstrating how the human-animal bond benefits survivors who are experiencing emotional trauma. CCN’s clients have made it abundantly clear, that Penny, by virtue of being a rescued shelter dog, has motivated them toward the reconstruction of their own lives. Clients believe that Penny, as a former shelter rescue, has a greater understanding of their needs, particularly since many victims are, themselves, homeless, due to domestic violence. From a homeless shelter dog to a canine professional on the national scene, our clients express that if Penny demonstrates such success is possible for a canine, it is also possible for them.

CCN PAWS canine advocates, Penny (left) and Ari (right)

Ari, CCN's second working canine (and younger brother of Penny), is an Australian Shepherd mix, and currently provides emotional support to survivors during individual therapy/counseling sessions (virtually, at this time), as well as courtroom accompaniment.

Rune, CCN's third and newest canine advocate to join the PAWS FOR EMPOWERMENT team, is a chocolate Labrador Retriever. Born June 2020, Rune's current and ongoing training focuses on socialization, basic obedience, and becoming attuned to the various working conditions she will encounter on the job. As a PAWS canine advocate-in-training, Rune is preparing to work with CCN legal advocates to provide courtroom accompaniment to support victims of domestic violence when facing their abusers during Protection From Abuse (PFA) hearings.

CCN PAWS FOR EMPOWERMENT canine advocate-in-training, Rune

Thea, CCN's first feline advocate, is a Sphynx cat who works exclusively with CCN's youth counselor during child/adolescent counseling sessions. While different from canines, felines are renowned for behaving similar to dogs, seeking attention and human contact at every opportunity.


PAWS PRESTIGE
2021
In February, PAWS feline advocate, Thea, and her handler, CCN youth advocate, Sydney Stephenson, were featured in an interview with NBC's TODAY on how working cats can provide comfort and support to children and youth impacted by domestic violence. The feature has since been picked up by People Magazine, an NBC affiliate in Salt Lake City, as well as an animal advocacy program in France, Woopets.

Meditating cat offers Zen like support to kids affected by trauma NBC TODAY 

Un chat Sphynx sert de thérapie et réconforte les enfants ayant subi des traumatismes Woopets France 

Meditating Sphynx cat comforts children affected by trauma People Magazine 

2020
In May, CCN's PAWS FOR EMPOWERMENT program was featured at the national level again, with a special exposé aired on Court TV with Julie Grant, highlighting the origin and effectiveness of the animal advocacy program for victims. Link to CourtTV video: Shelter Dog Turns Super Hero for DV Survivors 

During the spring, PAWS canine advocate, Penny, was nominated for the 2020 American Humane Hero Dog Award in the "Service Dog" category. The annual, nationwide competition recognized heroes on both ends of the leash, and is sponsored by Hallmark Channel.

2017
CCN's PAWS FOR EMPOWERMENT program was honored with the 2017 Governor's Victim Service Pathfinder Program Award. Governed by the Office of Victim Services (OVS) in the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency (PCCD), the Program Award is given to a program that has made notable contributions to the community and has a reputation for delivering services within the community. The PAWS program was recognized for innovation, creativity, and outstanding contributions to DV victims, the community, and the anti-violence field.

2014
CCN's PAWS FOR EMPOWERMENT program was selected by PCCD as one of the four most innovative initiatives within PA’s victim services field. Remarkably, PAWS’ selection as one of four innovative programs was noted at the national level, prominently featured in the annual report of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). As a result, OVC may utilize PAWS’ canine courtroom advocacy during Congressional testimony to illustrate the importance of innovation in victim services through Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant funding.

‍PAWS PROGRAM EFFICACY
All CCN victim services and programs, including PAWS FOR EMPOWERMENT, are evaluated annually by an independent researcher for efficacy based on client feedback. During the most recent fiscal year (FY 2019-20), CCN clients reported the following in regard to the PAWS program:

Animal Assisted Therapy
--93% of DV clients indicate they experience a decrease in symptoms related to trauma(e.g., depression, anxiety, PTSD) after working with the canine;
--91% report feeling physically calmer when the canine is present for therapy;
--91% find self-expression of emotions/feelings easier with the animal present;
--90% indicate the presence of the canine strengthen the client-therapist bond;
--90% report that therapy is more effective with the canine present; and,
--83% state they are more likely to participate in therapy with the canine present.

Legal Advocacy/Courtroom Accompaniment
--69% of DV clients reported feeling more confident/comfortable with the canine present
--50% of client indicated that having the canine available makes them more likely to attend court when facing their abuser

Veterinarian Outreach & Training
--87% stated that if they suspected animal abuse, they would feel comfortable connecting the human caretaker with Crisis Center North (via referral)
--87% indicated if they suspected animal abuse, they would feel comfortable providing the human caretaker with written information describing community resources;
--83% reported feeling confident in their ability to identify human/animal violence cases after the training; and,
--83% stated if they suspected animal abuse, they would feel comfortable talking to human caretakers about what is happening at home (i.e., screening for domestic violence). 


CRISIS CENTER NORTH Social Media

CCN Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/CrisisCenterNorth
CCN Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/crisiscenternorth/
CCN Twitter:https://twitter.com/CrisisCenterNor

WHAT WILL MY DONATION DO?

Your donation will allow CCN to continue to provide canine counseling and courtroom accompaniment services to victims of domestic violence, and also support our work with local veterinarian clinics to help us provide services to all victims (and their pets).

Specifically, your donations may be used to help fund training opportunities, pay for grooming or health services for our animal advocates, or any other sort of expense related to keeping our canine and feline advocates safe, happy, healthy, and able to support victims.

Please support Penny, Ari, Rune, & Thea, and the PAWS program as we seek to make a difference in the lives of victims!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!