Studies have shown that dogs can have a variety of therapeutic effects on humans, including social connection, stress management and improved moods. Paws & Think is a volunteer-centric, community-based organization working with schools, detention centers, youth agencies, humane societies, shelters and hospitals. Gayle Hutchens founded the organization in 2001 after hearing about a similar organization in Santa Rosa, California.
“Gayle’s goal was to connect the community through dogs and the love of animals,” says Ashleigh Coster, executive director. “We work daily to continue advancing her mission in our community.”
Paws & Think’s transformative programs offer hope and inspiration. The organization provides both youth canine and therapy dog programs. Dog trainers and volunteer coaches help youths train dogs on basic skills and manners using positive reinforcement methods. This not only teaches teens valuable life lessons, but also helps shelter dogs learn basic commands, facilitating their adoption. Coster emphasizes that dogs provide a nonjudgmental, safe interaction for at-risk youth.
“Right now we work with the Humane Society for Hamilton County for some of our programs, and with Indianapolis Animal Care Services to source the dogs,” Coster says. “Our goal is for the dogs to be adopted within three months after they go through the program, and we’ve seen great success with it. These success stories are a testament to the transformative power of our programs, giving us all a reason to be optimistic and encouraged about the future.”
Therapy Dog Programs provide comfort and support to adults and children in a variety of settings, including health care facilities, schools, libraries and support groups. Therapy teams consist of a dog and its handler, along with a volunteer assistant. Therapy dog programs include Paws to Read, Paws to Heal, Paws to Comfort and Paws to Connect.
“We partner with St. Vincent Ascension and are at their infusion center weekly,” Coster says. “It’s been really neat to see the dogs relieve some of the stress of the patients having various treatments.”
Volunteers are the lifeblood of Paws & Think’s mission. Coster stresses that the organization always needs support, whether through volunteering, financial funding or in-kind donations. This ongoing need underscores the integral role that each supporter plays in advancing the organization’s mission. On October 10, Paws & Think is hosting a fundraiser called Tails of Celebration at the Indianapolis Art Center. The event includes hors d’oeuvres, beverages, a caricature artist and a therapy dog petting booth.
“It’s always so gratifying to hear the stories of people who have been affected by our programs,” Coster says. “One young person fell through the cracks with [Department of Child Services] and was temporarily placed in the detention center until they could find a suitable foster home. She said to the dog that they were both waiting for their home. I thought it was great to see that they were able to provide each other with a little bit of support and connection during a difficult time.”
