Therapy dogs like Toffee Beanz offer a calming presence that helps children feel more comfortable during trauma therapy and other emotionally challenging experiences.
Every Mandela Day reminds us that changing lives doesn’t always require grand gestures. Sometimes, it’s a reassuring presence at exactly the right moment.
Across South Africa, service dogs do far more than guide people through busy streets or assist with everyday tasks.
Therapy Animals for Children
For children who have experienced abuse, neglect, or violence, talking about painful memories can feel overwhelming. Sitting opposite an unfamiliar adult in a therapy room is difficult enough. Doing so in a courtroom, where they may be asked to recount traumatic experiences in front of strangers, can feel almost impossible.
