An innovative program at UNC using dogs to help those dealing with mental illness is at risk of being closed.

Many of us know that a dog can help relieve stress at the end of a long day, but for some a dog can mean so much more.

UNC PAWS is a dog therapy program used in the recovery portion of the UNC Center of Excellence in Community Mental Health. The program trains shelter dogs to eventually be service animals for clients who suffer from varying mental illnesses.

“It requires things that get people out into the community and get people back on their feet and get their old lives back,” said center director Dr. John Gilmore.

He says that UNC PAWS has always been funded through small amounts of remaining money and grants. But with tightening budgets, the program will be shut down unless the center can raise $50,000 by the end of June.

Gilmore said this program goes beyond what pills or other standard treatment can do for patients dealing with different disorders.

“This is a real opportunity to come do something every day that’s meaningful,” Gilmore said. “A lot of times it may be hard for people to interact with other people, but it’s much easier to interact with dogs.”

Gilmore said the center’s staff is hopeful their plea will allow for the program to continue because it benefits clients in ways they have not seen through normal treatment.

“It’s a very innovative, creative way of trying to help people recover from their mental illness and get back on their feet,” Gilmore said. “So it would be a real shame if we weren’t able to keep the program going.”

UNC PAWS is using a crowd-funding website in an attempt to raise the necessary funding, which Gilmore says would fund the program for approximately a year.

Of the $50,000 that needs to be raised by the end of June, donations were at nearly $30,000 as of this posting.

Photo via UNC PAWS

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