Our Impact
may 2025
creating opportunity for children in need to benefit from equine-assisted therapy
GRANT RECIPIENT: Crossroads Corral (Longwood, FL)
GRANT AMOUNT: $12,000
BACKGROUND: Unfortunately, it is common for those who are most in need to have the least resources required to obtain the help they need. In Florida, there is an abundance of children who have experienced some form of trauma who lack access to quality programs with licensed professionals to help them heal.
OUR IMPACT: The Human-Animal Alliance supported scholarships for youth in need – specifically, children whose insurance is not in-network with providers – so that they can attend equine-assisted therapy at no cost. This funding has created opportunities for children to access the healing they need and deserve, who otherwise would not have been able to consider working with horses.
may 2025
expanding community access to canine assisted therapy
GRANT RECIPIENT: Canine Assisted Therapy (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
GRANT AMOUNT: $15,700
BACKGROUND: People from all walks of life face difficult situations every day related to health, age, trauma, and other life circumstances. Oftentimes, these circumstances leave them with feelings such as loneliness, sadness, frustration, and disconnection from those around them. Exposure to therapy animals has proven effective in significantly reducing stress and anxiety levels and feelings of isolation, while improving mood and social connectedness.
OUR IMPACT: The Human-Animal Alliance funded the addition of five (5) therapy dog and handler teams to perform work in south Florida. These teams will support members of our local community by visiting people in hospitals, elderly care facilities, schools, and more to provide connection, comfort, and support to those who need it most.
may 2025
Providing comfort and healing to bereaved children and families
GRANT RECIPIENT: Tomorrow’s Rainbow (Coconut Creek, FL)
GRANT AMOUNT: $16,000
BACKGROUND: No one is immune from experiencing tragic events in life – including children. After the loss of a loved one, parents and families are not always equipped at home to help children through these periods of grief, especially when they are navigating their own. Equine-assisted therapy is a powerful clinical modality that can have tremendous impact on helping people of all ages to heal.
OUR IMPACT: The Human-Animal Alliance was proud to support this wonderful organization for the third year in a row in 2025! Our grant funds provided bereaved children and families with access to equine-assisted therapy sessions to facilitate their healing. Grant funds also sponsored a bonded pair of therapy ponies, River & Rocky, who regularly travel to underserved communities to work with children who do not have the opportunity to visit the ranch.
January 2025
helping injured and displaced pets impacted by the california wildfires
GRANT RECIPIENT: Pasadena Humane (Pasadena, CA)
GRANT AMOUNT: $25,000
BACKGROUND: The southern California wildfires in January 2025 left a devastating impact. Thousands of structures were destroyed and damaged, displacing people and pets throughout the affected areas. Countless animals were lost or left homeless, and required care for burns, smoke inhalation, dehydration, and other injuries as a result of this crisis.
OUR IMPACT: The Human-Animal Alliance provided financial aid to provide a lifeline for pets impacted by the fires. Our grant funds ensured that displaced companion animals received proper medical care, food, and safe shelter during and after the wildfires. Additionally, this partnership supported efforts to reunify as many pets as possible with their families.
december 2024
establishing “The Human-Animal Alliance Angel fund” to support pets of active-duty military members
GRANT RECIPIENT: PACT for Animals (Gladwyne, PA)
GRANT AMOUNT: $30,000
BACKGROUND: Far too often, active-duty military members are faced with the heartbreaking uncertainty of what will happen to their pets when they deploy. When friends and family are unable to step in and help, military pets face surrender to shelters, or even euthanasia. The special bonds that military personnel share with their pets before and after deployment provide a critical source of comfort, love, and therapeutic support. Our military heroes should never be forced to give up their animals for lack of another option.
OUR IMPACT: The Human-Animal Alliance financed the creation of “The Human-Animal Alliance Angel Fund.” This fund supports pets while in foster care during owner deployments, covering the cost of emergency veterinary expenses and other basic needs. Military members can deploy with peace of mind that their pets will be well-cared for until they return home.
December 2024
creating animal-assisted learning opportUNITIES for children
GRANT RECIPIENT: Beautiful Together Animal Sanctuary (Chapel Hill, NC)
GRANT AMOUNT: $15,000
BACKGROUND: Animal-assisted learning is an effective modality in helping children break through academic, emotional, and developmental barriers - enabling them to reach their full potential. In a classroom setting, animals help children navigate academic challenges, developmental delays, and more. Improvements are seen in social and life skill development, in addition to academic growth.
OUR IMPACT: The Human-Animal Alliance sponsored one academic enrichment program at a premier facility with a stellar track record working with kids. Our grant funds enabled fifteen (15) children to participate in a multi-month program with animals who otherwise would not have had the opportunity. Through this program, children work toward improved academics with the support of rescued animals, creating special relationships where both children and animals offer mutual comfort and healing to each other.
december 2024
providing assistance to the pets of military veterans
GRANT RECIPIENT: Pawster Nashville (Nashville, TN)
GRANT AMOUNT: $10,000
BACKGROUND: Military veterans face many challenges after returning home from deployment. Physical injuries, PTSD, difficulty adjusting to civilian life, and financial struggles are several common examples of what veterans may face. Devastatingly, many are forced to surrender their pets to shelters or euthanize them due to an inability to provide for the animals’ basic needs. In many cases, veterans will also avoid seeking medical care for themselves because they do not have anyone to look after their pet while they are seeking treatment.
OUR IMPACT: The Human-Animal Alliance provided financial support to veterans and their pets, enabling them to stay united. Our grant funds covered: 1) crisis foster care for pets of veterans seeking medical treatment, and 2) pet fees being charged to veterans in need of new housing who cannot afford those expenses. The love and unwavering support that our military veterans receive from their pets is critical to their mental health and happiness. We are proud to have played a role in keeping them together.
December 2024
creating “The human-animal alliance library” for animal-assisted learning program
GRANT RECIPIENT: BARK Therapy Dogs (Long Beach, CA)
GRANT AMOUNT: $2,500
BACKGROUND: Learning to read can be intimidating and difficult for many children, especially without appropriate support or compassionate guidance when they are struggling. Reading to dogs in a non-judgmental, positive environment has been proven to help children gain confidence in their reading skills, meeting (and even surpassing!) their academic goals.
OUR IMPACT: The Human-Animal Alliance funded the creation of “The Human-Animal Alliance Library.” Our grant funds purchased a substantial selection of books, made available to children working with therapy dogs to improve their reading skills. Children in the program are now able to select from a wide variety of books, spanning many different topics and reading levels - helping them progress, while keeping them engaged and having fun.
October 2024
supporting displaced pets in the wake of hurricane helene
GRANT RECIPIENT: The Street Dog Coalition (Asheville, NC)
GRANT AMOUNT: $10,000
BACKGROUND: In October of 2024, Hurricane Helene devastated portions of western North Carolina. Thousands of people and their pets were displaced, separated, or injured as a result of this horrific natural disaster.
OUR IMPACT: The Human-Animal Alliance provided displaced pets with free access to critical veterinary care after the storm. Our grant funds covered the cost of vaccinations, heartworm testing and prevention, preventative medicine, treatment of wounds and infections, pain management, and more. Supplies were brought directly into the Asheville community, meeting displaced pets and owners where they were at - making access available that otherwise may not have been possible during this challenging time.
april 2024
creating “The human-animal alliance healing den” at fox sanctuary
GRANT RECIPIENT: Pawsitive Beginnings (Key Largo, FL)
GRANT AMOUNT: $10,000
BACKGROUND: This fox sanctuary had launched an innovative animal-assisted therapy program incorporating rescued foxes into therapy sessions. The pilot program, which was already garnering positive feedback from licensed therapists and clients alike, was off to a great start. The only remaining need was a dedicated physical space where sessions could be conducted securely and effectively. To ensure the future success of the program, a private area was important so that participants in the program could speak freely with their therapist while feeling comfortable and safe. Funding was needed to create such a space.
OUR IMPACT: The Human-Animal Alliance provided a substantial grant to Pawsitive Beginnings, enabling the construction and fit-out of “The Human-Animal Alliance Healing Den” on site at the fox sanctuary. The end result was a tranquil, safe, private space on property where structured, impactful therapy sessions are now being conducted for at-risk youth, trauma survivors, and individuals in need of emotional healing. The space will serve as a permanent sanctuary for healing, as well as a place of resilience, hope, and transformation for many years to come.
March 2024
supporting therapy horses who specialize in working with children
GRANT RECIPIENTS: Tomorrow’s Rainbow (Coconut Creek, FL) & Shepherd Youth Ranch (Creedmoor, NC)
GRANT AMOUNTS: $5,000 (Tomorrow’s Rainbow) & $5,000 (Shepherd Youth Ranch)
BACKGROUND: A well-cared for, willing, and happy herd of horses is key to the effectiveness of any equine-assisted therapy program. Horses are expensive to maintain. Raising funds to cover their range of needs each year is a main focus of any nonprofit that owns and cares for these special animals.
OUR IMPACT: The Human-Animal Alliance sponsored three therapy horses: a bonded pair of miniature pony geldings (River & Rocky) at Tomorrow’s Rainbow, and an off-the-track Thoroughbred mare (Tempi) at Shepherd Youth Ranch. Our grant funds offset the cost to maintain these special animals for 1 year, enabling them to continue doing incredible work supporting trauma survivors in equine-assisted therapy settings. These horses directly supported 750+ children, families, and veterans navigating grief, loss, adversity, and trauma, helping them develop healthy coping tools and a deeper sense of connection. We are thrilled to have sponsored all three horses!
September 2023
providing a crisis response dog for first responders and their community
GRANT RECIPIENT: paws4people (Wilmington, NC)
GRANT AMOUNT: $25,000
BACKGROUND: First responders encounter traumatic and stressful situations on a daily basis as a routine part of their job. Statistics consistently show that first responders are 5x more likely to suffer from PTSD and depression than the general population which, alarmingly, also leads to much higher rates of suicide - more first responders die of suicide than in the line of duty every year.
OUR IMPACT: The Human-Animal Alliance sponsored a crisis response facility dog, AXEL, for a fire department in Wilmington, NC. Our grant funds supported AXEL’s training and certification to work as a service animal supporting first responders and civilians in the wake of high-stress, emergency situations. AXEL promotes resiliency, lowers levels of emotional distress, and decreases feelings of anxiety, fear, and depression for first responders and civilians. AXEL’s presence has been so impactful that since his placement the Wilmington Fire Department has added two additional crisis response dogs to the existing team.
August 2023
healing survivors of human trafficking through animal-assisted therapy
GRANT RECIPIENTS: Ranch Hands Rescue. (Argyle, TX) & Inspiration Ranch (Magnolia, TX)
GRANT AMOUNTS: $20,000 (Ranch Hands Rescue) & $10,000 (Inspiration Ranch)
BACKGROUND: Human trafficking has become a widespread crisis in our world today. An estimated 40.3 million people worldwide are victims and survivors, 25% of whom are underage children. Survivors of trafficking experience an array of serious mental health challenges including PTSD, depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicidal ideations and attempts.
OUR IMPACT: The Human-Animal Alliance provided both male and female survivors with free access to the very best animal-assisted therapy programs in the country specializing in treating those who have been trafficked. Our grant fully funded 234 total animal-assisted therapy sessions for 32 trafficking survivors. Participants overwhelmingly demonstrated reduction in trauma symptom severity, improved quality of daily life, healthy boundary setting, establishment of personal safety, improved quality of healthy relationships, and renewed engagement with activities of daily life.
May 2023
healing children and young women through equine-assisted therapy
GRANT RECIPIENTS: Tomorrow’s Rainbow (Coconut Creek, FL) & Hope Reins (Raleigh, NC)
GRANT AMOUNTS: $13,000 (Tomorrow’s Rainbow) & $16,000 (Hope Reins)
BACKGROUND: A recent CDC study showed that teen and pre-teen girls are experiencing record-high levels of sexual violence (18%), sadness and/or feelings of hopelessness (60%), and suicidal ideation (24%). Young women are also struggling with general mental health challenges and feelings of disconnectedness at a higher rate than their male counterparts.
OUR IMPACT: The Human-Animal Alliance enabled access to equine-assisted therapy services (at zero cost) to young women and children battling severe anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and grief. Our grant provided 1000+ equine-assisted therapy sessions, touching the lives of hundreds of kids in need. We also sponsored a specific miniature therapy horse (the oldest and most experienced member of the herd!) at Tomorrow’s Rainbow.
December 2022
keeping domestic violence survivors united with their pets
GRANT RECIPIENT: Women for Paws, Inc. (Miami, FL)
GRANT AMOUNT: $10,000
BACKGROUND: In the United States, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner. There is also a well-established link between domestic abuse and animal abuse, with 70% of female domestic violence survivors with pets reporting that their abusers threatened, harmed, or killed their animal. The lack of animal-friendly domestic violence shelters often perpetuates abusive situations, as 50% of those experiencing domestic violence refuse to leave their pet behind.
OUR IMPACT: The Human-Animal Alliance supported pet owners and their animals at a pet-friendly women’s shelter in south Florida (90% of whom survived and escaped from domestic violence situations). Our grant funds provided food, veterinary care, and basic necessities for over 200 pets during their temporary stay at the women’s shelter. We also provided financial help to alumni during their transition out of the shelter, ensuring that their pets continued to stay with them as they began their next chapter.
november 2022
preventing pet surrenders and euthanasia during the economic recession
GRANT RECIPIENT: Harley’s Hope Foundation (Colorado Springs, CO)
GRANT AMOUNT: $25,000
BACKGROUND: The economic recession and high inflation have caused tremendous strain on American families. Unable to provide for pets’ basic needs, low-income pet owners are surrendering, rehoming, and euthanizing their animals at alarmingly high rates. Financial hardship, housing complications, and pet health emergencies all contribute to the problem.
OUR IMPACT: The Human-Animal Alliance’s grant provided emergency veterinary care, pet food, pet housing deposits, and other financial assistance to low-income pet owners. Our support enabled 54 at-risk animals in the state of Florida to stay in their current homes, preventing them from being surrendered or euthanized. Our grant funds kept people and their beloved pets united, while saving pet lives and preventing additional strain on shelters.
OCTOBER 2022
helping LOST and injured pets in the wake of Hurricane Ian
GRANT RECIPIENT: Lost Pet Services, Inc. (Manatee, FL)
GRANT AMOUNT: $15,000
BACKGROUND: Hurricane Ian devastated western Florida, destroying homes and displacing pets. Countless animals were separated from their owners and suffered serious injuries as a result of the storm.
OUR IMPACT: The Human-Animal Alliance funded critical medical care for 53 pets sustaining storm-related major medical injuries whose owners could not afford the cost of emergency care. Every pet that received assistance from H-AA was restored to baseline health with the exception of 1 that could not be saved. Grant funds also supported a microchip program with the Manatee County Animal Welfare, making possible free microchips with free lifetime registration to pet owners in need.
