May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to recognize the weight so many people quietly carry.
Through our PASS program and through Dogs Matter, we see every day how deeply mental health and the human animal bond are connected. For many, a pet is more than companionship, they are comfort in anxious moments, purpose in uncertain seasons, and a steady presence when everything else feels unsure.
This month, through our PAWSITIVE SUPPORT campaign, we’re honoring the impactful role pets play in mental health.
Noah & Nash: Finding Stability in the Midst of Recovery
When Noah reached out to Dogs Matter, he was at one of the lowest points in his life. Facing eviction and struggling with addiction, he was also trying to care for Nash, his husky.
He found a treatment center that would accept him, but not Nash. Without a safe place for his dog, Noah made the impossible choice to leave treatment early. Like so many who don’t receive the support they need at the right time, he relapsed.
But then, he found Dogs Matter.
For the first time in a long time, Noah felt something he hadn’t felt in a long time, hope. While Noah focused on his recovery, Nash entered our Bark Dorm program, where he received consistent training, structure, and care. When they were reunited, Noah didn’t just get his dog back, he had stability.
Their daily walks to the dog park became more than routine. It was there that Noah found space to breathe and reconnect with himself. Even in the midst of PTSD and social anxiety, the park became a place of peace and connection.
When the hard days come, Nash is the reason Noah keeps going. In his words, “I probably wouldn’t be sober if it weren’t for Nash.”
Today, Noah is not only sober, he’s been accepted back into his master’s program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. In just one year, he’ll be helping others navigate the same path he once walked.
Reina: Choosing Help Instead of Goodbye
When Reina’s owner arrived at Dallas Animal Services, she believed she had no other option but to surrender her beloved dog. She was struggling deeply with her mental health and wanted to make sure Reina would be safe while she sought the care she needed.
That’s when she was introduced to our PASS program. Although Reina was initially taken into the shelter due to the urgency of the situation, our team stayed closely connected working with both the shelter and Reina’s owner to find a solution that would keep them together in the long run.
Within just two days, a foster hero stepped in. Reina found a temporary home with Debbie, a DPA foster, where she spent two weeks surrounded by care, comfort, and even a new best friend, another foster pup named Jessie.
During that time, Reina’s owner was able to focus on herself, on healing, on getting to a better place. And when she was ready, Reina was right there waiting for her. Her owner later shared how deeply grateful she was, not just for the help, but for the feeling that she wasn’t alone in one of her hardest moments.
The Power of PAWSITIVE SUPPORT
These stories are not rare, they happen everyday. Humans trying to hold it together and moments where an act of support changes everything.
Pawsitive support is about recognizing that mental health matters. It’s about meeting people where they are with compassion. Pawsitive support is making sure no one has to choose between getting help and keeping the pet they love.
How You Can Be Part of the Healing
This Mental Health Awareness Month, there are so many ways to show up:
- Adopt or foster and provide a safe, loving environment for a pet in need
- Support programs like PASS and Dogs Matter that keep people and pets together
- Share these stories to remind others that hope exists
- Lead with empathy you never know what someone is carrying
You are not alone, healing is possible and together, we can create more moments of PAWSITIVE SUPPORT for people and their pets.
