Canine Inspired Change: How One Dog Makes a Difference

Pets are more than just furry creatures to greet us when we get home, and Canine Inspired Change (CIC) is showing us that. Located in the Midway neighborhood of St. Paul, this nonprofit is focused on displaying and supporting the community through the healing power of therapy dogs. CIC’s mission provides social-emotional tools to vulnerable youth and adults, so they can overcome trauma, social struggles, and isolation to fully participate in school, work, and their community. Furthermore, CIC offers customizable sessions for individuals to learn and practice these social-emotional tools as well as foster social growth with the help of the dogs. Often, CIC staff can be found at schools and other organizations in the Twin Cities to connect and support students. 

CIC’s work is community-driven and provides benefit to countless individuals. However, the nonprofit still faces barriers to growth. Such limitations include lack of funding and high operational costs, meeting demand with less staffing capacity, limited resources to data, and minimal awareness around animal-assisted interventions.  

The second round of the Minnesota PROMISE Act was incredibly beneficial for CIC. With the grant funds, CIC can strengthen capacity by training more therapy dogs, invest in data collection to increase data collection, build inclusive spaces for the community, and support organizational growth and sustainability through day-to-day and long-term planning. All of these steps will help CIC reach its long term goal. 

“In the long term, funds will help CIC achieve its vision of becoming a model for trauma-informed, animal-assisted interventions that can be replicated statewide.”  

To learn more about Canine Inspired Change, visit their website at https://canineinspiredchange.org/.