The Healing Species

Peace on Earth starts with how we treat the weakest or most voiceless among us.

The Healing Species is an 11-week, "Standardized-Testing aligned" violence intervention/character education program approved by the State Department of Education, used in scores of schools across SC (reaching over 3,500 students), and now existing with satellite chapters in Seattle Washington, Greenwich Connecticut, and Miami Florida, with expanding developments in numerous other states.

Mission: The mission of the Healing Species is to intercept crime and violence by reaching children with our innovative, successful, and unique 11-week violence intervention curriculum. Rescued dogs - dogs nobody else wanted - assist us in teaching children:

• life-lessons in respect for the feelings of others,
• gaining power and authority from principles and acts of mercy and compassion instead of from bullying or "violence for violence,"
• age-appropriate awareness on abuse and how to get help and that what happens to us does not have to define us.
• methods for conflict resolution,
• self-esteem from developing responsibility, and
• how to take the initiative to create a more compassionate planet.

"Empathy is the most revolutionary emotion."
~ Gloria Steinem ~

The Unique Twist:

• Those who really bring the Healing Species lessons to life are the rescued dogs who act as "helpers and teachers" in every lesson.
• Each class begins with the dog's story of abuse and neglect, a situation to which the children can often relate.
• Through the dog's story, the children find a happy ending, hope, and courage for their own stories.
• The dog is a living example of overcoming one's past, and returning nonviolent responses.
• Lastly, the dogs provide an incredibly strong "visual aid" to the Healing Species lessons, thus making it possible for even struggling students to remember lessons almost verbatim.
• What better way to reach "shut-down" children than through the wagging tail and unconditional love of dogs nobody else wanted? The children learn first hand that even the most vulnerable and most wounded among us is important and does have something important to give.