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New Academic Article from Crisis Center North
It’s All About the Ruff: Utilizing Therapy Dogs to Address Trauma in Domestic Violence Settings
By John R. Chapin (Pennsylvania State University), Grace A. Coleman (Crisis Center North), Michael Brayack (Crisis Center North)
In March 2025, Crisis Center North published its latest academic article, entitled “It’s All About the Ruff: Utilizing Therapy Dogs to Address Trauma in Domestic Violence Settings.” The article was published in the People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice (PAIJ), the official peer-reviewed open-access publication of the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations (IAHAIO, www.iahaio.org). PAIJ publishes articles related to research and practice in the fields of animal-assisted interventions (AAI) and human-animal interactions (HAI) where the wellbeing of humans and animals are concerned.
This article focused on studying the efficacy of CCN’s PAWS For Empowerment program in using animal advocates in child/adult counseling and in courtrooms, and about pet ownership and mental health/coping skills for youth.
In schools, the article explored mental health, coping skills, and pet ownership among students who participated in CCN’s school-based prevention education programs. Though no difference in mental health between participants with or without pets was found, youth with no pets showed lower coping skills than those with pets.
In child counseling, most of the children (83%) said the presence of the therapy cat made them feel calmer. Fifty percent said interacting with the cat made them feel closer to their counselor, and 50% said they were more likely to attend therapy when the feline advocate was present. Most (67%) said counseling was more effective with the animal present and 50% said working with the therapy cat made them feel better about themselves.
In adult counseling, participants felt physically calmer with Ari (the canine advocate) present (96% of participants); they were more like to attend therapy if Ari was there (83%); that the presence of the dog strengthened their bond with the therapist (89%); therapy was more effective with the dog present (87%); that self-expression of emotions and feelings was easier with the dog present (80%); and decrease in symptoms related to trauma (depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc.) from working with Ari (81%).
In courtrooms, 92% of clients reported feeling more comfortable or confident with a dog present, and 42% said having a dog available would make them more likely to attend court.
Overall, this study demonstrates that CCN’s canine advocates make a difference in the lives of survivors they serve, and CCN is pleased to be able to expand the body of research on the use of working dogs to address the needs of domestic violence survivors.
