By: William Dong

Starting from 2000, Gabriel’s Angels have been using pets ever since to comfort kids big to small.

“Pets can cut through many of the anxieties we feel in our culture.” Cara Kiggins, the chief prams officer of Gabriel’s Angels said. The nonprofit organization was founded in 2000 and was named after their founder’s late therapy dog, Gabriel. You can find the organization in Phoenix, Arizona. It provides pet therapy Programs across the state. According to the Center for disease control and prevention (CDC), regular interactions with dogs can increase the confidence, self-esteem, joy and comfort to a child.

Gabriel’s Angels specializes in helping kids from 6 to 18. School counselors will identify a child who might need some emotional support because of one or more reasons. These might include recent illness, traumatic situation(s), of academic challenges. Then the pet therapy teams will visit the school up to 2 hours a day.

“Several kids find a support structure from a dog when they may not have much support,” Kiggins said. She cited a powerful connection that occurred at the rehabilitation center. A dog named Lloyd was playing fetch with an eager circle of parents. The dog would repeatedly return to a withdrawn teenager sitting outside of the circle. Lloyd was continuing to bring the ball to her to throw it. Not long after she had a smile of joy on her face.

Image Credit by Nadiye Odabaşı