Leading PAWSitive Canine Connections

Colleen Anne Dell, PhD

Colleen Anne Dell, PhDColleen Anne Dell, PhDColleen Anne Dell, PhD
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    • Home
    • About
      • About Colleen Dell
      • One Health
      • Recognitions
      • The Team
      • Get Involved
    • Dog Initiatives
      • Learn About
    • Research Areas
      • Addiction
      • HIV/AIDS
      • Inmates
      • Patients
      • Service Providers
      • Students
      • Veterans
    • Research Outcomes
      • Academic Articles
      • Creative Works
      • Fact Sheets
      • Podcasts & Vidoes
      • Reports and Magazines
      • Training & Workshops
      • Toolkit & Courses
    • Teaching
      • Teaching Philosophy
      • In the Classroom
      • Student Supervision
    • News & Media
      • News Media
      • Social Media
      • Therapy Dog Blog
      • Service Dog Blog
      • Newsletter

Colleen Anne Dell, PhD

Colleen Anne Dell, PhDColleen Anne Dell, PhDColleen Anne Dell, PhD
  • Home
  • About
    • About Colleen Dell
    • One Health
    • Recognitions
    • The Team
    • Get Involved
  • Dog Initiatives
    • Learn About
  • Research Areas
    • Addiction
    • HIV/AIDS
    • Inmates
    • Patients
    • Service Providers
    • Students
    • Veterans
  • Research Outcomes
    • Academic Articles
    • Creative Works
    • Fact Sheets
    • Podcasts & Vidoes
    • Reports and Magazines
    • Training & Workshops
    • Toolkit & Courses
  • Teaching
    • Teaching Philosophy
    • In the Classroom
    • Student Supervision
  • News & Media
    • News Media
    • Social Media
    • Therapy Dog Blog
    • Service Dog Blog
    • Newsletter

Benefits of @PAWSitiveCanineConnections

'Gone to the Dogs' to Support Substance Use Health!

This initiative is designed for service providers who work with substance use clients that have companion animals in their lives, but anyone can benefit from it!


Follow these 6 STEPS to raise your awareness and become animal informed about the supportive role of pets, in particular dogs, in people's substance use health. One such support a dog  can offer is their ability to counteract the harmful effects of stigma.   


  1. Watch the video Why consider pets in the substance use health field
  2. Watch the video How pets and a service dog help a Veteran with his substance use health and stigma
  3. Watch the video Managing substance use stigma through the human-animal bond
  4. Do the module Becoming a PAWSitive Ally
  5. Do the module What you need to know about substance use health concerns
  6. Access Resources

  

Our team's work with pets, Service Dogs, and military Veterans experiencing substance use harms is highlighted.

IMPORTANT: We benefit from the connection we have with dogs, not by using them for human advantage.

IMPORTANT: We benefit from the connection we have with dogs, not by using them for human advantage.

IMPORTANT: We benefit from the connection we have with dogs, not by using them for human advantage.

IMPORTANT: We benefit from the connection we have with dogs, not by using them for human advantage.

IMPORTANT: We benefit from the connection we have with dogs, not by using them for human advantage.

IMPORTANT: We benefit from the connection we have with dogs, not by using them for human advantage.

Helpful Definitions to Get You Started

Download PDF

6 STEPS to Raise Your Awareness

1. Why consider pets in the substance use health field?

2. How pets and a service dog help a Veteran with their substance use health and stigma

2. How pets and a service dog help a Veteran with their substance use health and stigma

Learn why you need to consider pets as supports in the substance use health field and how you can do this.


25 minute video with Dr. Colleen Dell

2. How pets and a service dog help a Veteran with their substance use health and stigma

2. How pets and a service dog help a Veteran with their substance use health and stigma

2. How pets and a service dog help a Veteran with their substance use health and stigma

Learn from a Veteran about how his pets and a PTSD service dog support his battle with substance use and stigma.

 

30 minute video with Captain Paul de Groot CD (Retired)

3. Managing substance use stigma through the human-animal bond

2. How pets and a service dog help a Veteran with their substance use health and stigma

3. Managing substance use stigma through the human-animal bond

Learn the scientific evidence behind the presence of stigma in the lives of Veterans with a substance use disorder and how the human-animal bond can assist them.

25 minute video with Dr. Linzi Williamson

4. Becoming a PAWSitive Ally

5. What you need to know about Veterans with substance use health concerns

3. Managing substance use stigma through the human-animal bond

Take this module to explore how our growing understanding of the supportive role of allies, including animals, can help individuals with substance use concerns make a stronger connection to their wellness.


You can register for the full 9-module Connecting for Veteran Wellness certificate course for free here. 

20 minute module

5. What you need to know about Veterans with substance use health concerns

5. What you need to know about Veterans with substance use health concerns

5. What you need to know about Veterans with substance use health concerns

Take this module to explore how our growing understanding of substance use harms can help us assist individuals with making a stronger connection to their substance use health goals and/or managing their symptoms.


You can register for the full 9-module Connecting for Veteran Wellness certificate course for free here. 

20 minute module

6. Service Provider Resources

5. What you need to know about Veterans with substance use health concerns

5. What you need to know about Veterans with substance use health concerns

Access resources identified for substance use service providers about the importance of pets in their clients' lives and for their substance use health.


"Becoming animal informed means that animals, and specifically companion animals/pets, are recognized for the role they can play in peoples' lives and wellness."


Dr. Darlene Chalmer's Resources

As seen on CNN, PEOPLE Magazine, WebMD

Therapy Dogs Help Reduce Patient Pain in an Emergency Department! 


Carey, B., Dell, C., Stempien et al. (2022). Outcomes of a controlled trial with visiting therapy dog teams on pain in adults in an emergency department. PLOS ONE. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262599

Your Feedback?

Take 5 minutes to give us feedback on our awareness raising initiative and receive a FREE window decal

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Share this Initiative with your Colleagues!

PAWSitive Canine Connections Initiative Poster (pdf)Download

Initiative Background

This initiative is supported with funding from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. Team members are: Dr. Colleen Dell, Dr. Linzi Williamson, Maryellen Gibson, Ben Carey and in partnership with Daniel Hearn from Hard Knox Talks and Dr. Barb Fornssler.


Dr. Colleen Anne Dell led development of the Connecting for Veteran Wellness course alongside a team of leading scientific researchers, Veterans with lived and living experience, project staff and contractors (including Redwood Performs), and Service Dog program advisors. Indigenous Elder Harry Francis and Knowledge Keeper Larry Laliberte offered guidance to the project through their sharing of prayer, wisdom, and knowledge. The project was initiated in 2019 by the University of Saskatchewan and was funded by Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program. Some of the course is built upon findings of a Canadian Institutes of Health Research funded project undertaken by members of the current team, starting in 2016.  Click HERE to learn more.

Follow 'PAWSitive Canine Connections' on Social Media

Follow Dr. Dell's Companion Animals as They Navigate Life on Facebook

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Colleen Anne Dell

University of Saskatchewan

(306) 966-5912 colleen.dell@usask.ca

Copyright © 2023 Colleen Anne Dell - All Rights Reserved.

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