About PAWsitive Recovery

PAWsitive recovery gives people in recovery and animals in shelters a new “leash” on life, helping them heal from the wounds of addiction, trauma, and abuse. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 19.7 million American adults (aged 12 and older) battled a substance use disorder in 2017. Many of these individuals also struggle with mental health disorders and drug and alcohol abuse simultaneously. Drug abuse and addiction not only have an impact on people but can have an impact on animals as well. 

What We Offer:

• Temporary Pet Foster Care for Individuals Seeking Treatment or those recovering from Domestic Violence
• Pet Visits for People in Treatment Centers and Shelters
• Volunteer/Community Service Opportunities at Shelters for those in Recovery or Healing from Domestic Violence
• Animal Focused Therapy in Treatment Centers and Shelters
• Animal Focused Workshops in Treatment Centers and Shelters

PAWsitive recovery focuses on healing the wounds of trauma and addiction through interaction with animals while in treatment. Loneliness, stress and depression are common during recovery. Being away from family and pets can exacerbate this problem. Animals facilitate social contact, get people out of their own head, encourage exercise, reduce stress, and help those in recovery stay on schedule. Having an animal or a pet to care for gives people hope and a sense of purpose. We facilitate partnerships with recovery and treatment centers and offer several workshops that integrate animals and therapy, meditation, and exercise.

There are also challenges animal shelters face because of overpopulation, animal neglect and abuse. This is often a side effect of substance abuse. Shelters need help cleaning kennels, socializing animals, walking dogs, and more. People in recovery can help homeless pets by completing community service or volunteering with local animal shelters. PAWsitive recovery helps facilitate partnerships with animal shelters to give people in recovery the opportunity to help care for animals while healing themselves

There are many challenges people face in recovery. Losing a pet on the path to recovery should never be one of them. One of the main reasons’ individuals do not enter treatment to long-term facilities or sober living is because they have no one to care for their animals while in treatment. We provide temporary housing, foster, and supplies for pets when their humans decide to enter a treatment facility or sober living environment. Keeping animals united with their owners’ after treatment takes some of the burdens off shelters and makes it easier for people to enter treatment.