Help Comal County Children Heal from Trauma

In Comal County, 1 in 6 children report abuse before age 18—and 3 out of 5 never disclose it. This trauma deeply impacts mental health, physical health, and our entire community. 1

The Solution: The healing power of the human-animal bond. “A study examining children aged 7 to 17 with trauma symptoms who had been sexually abused found that, following animal assisted therapy, children in the group that included therapy dogs showed significant decreases in trauma symptoms, including anxiety, depression, anger, PTSD, and dissociation.” 2

Canine Classmates pairs trained and certified Newfoundland therapy dogs with young survivors. Through partnerships with the Comal County District Attorney’s Office and the Children's Advocacy Center of Comal County, our dogs provide comfort, reduce fear and lower stress hormones during grueling trials and forensic interviews.

The Need: While the comfort our dogs provide is priceless, maintaining them is not. Your gift directly funds:

Annual dog recertifications and training
Frequent grooming, veterinary checkups, and food
Comfort kits (blankets, drawing pads and more) for children in crisis

Every gift, regardless of size, creates meaningful change. Most importantly, your investment sends a powerful message to children who have experienced abuse: they are not alone, and there are people and a community who care deeply about their healing journey and future here in Comal County.

Thank you,

Canine Classmates

1. https://cactx.org/ending-child-sexual-abu

2. Dietz, T. J., Davis, D., & Pennings, J. (2012). Evaluating animal-assisted therapy in group treatment for child sexual abuse. Journal of child sexual abuse, 21(6), 665-683.

Human-Animal Bond Healing