UNC PAWS
The Power of Man’s Best Friend
UNC PAWS (Peer Assisted Wellness Support) Program, in partnership with UNC Center for Excellence, is an innovative, community-based recovery and rehabilitation program that uses non-traditional interventions to assist individuals living with severe mental illness. Currently, dogs are adopted from a local animal shelter and paired with a client for training.
Personal Support Dogs
A personal support dog (PSD) or an emotional support animal provides therapeutic support to clients through companionship, affection, and promoting positive self-regard. However, PSDs are permitted in housing that otherwise does not allow dogs through the Fair Housing Act and on airlines in compliance with the Airline Carrier Access guidelines with proper documentation provided by licensed mental health professionals.
“Doing something that day made me feel as if I didn’t just spend the day in bed or at home...I had done something. That gave a certain amount of satisfaction.”
-Program Participant, UNC PAWS Program