Uncovering the Healing Power of the Human-Dog Connection

When I first saw Brea at the LA animal shelter, her white-gray checkered fur was overgrown and severely matted. She was noticeably overweight, and she looked mentally exhausted. With her body hunched low to the ground, she silently crept towards me through the echo chamber of howls and yelps. Then, she stiffly lowered her body onto the cold tile floor and stared blankly into the distance.

The shelter volunteer gave her leash a tug, but she remained stuck to the floor like gorilla glue. When I offered her comforting words, she looked at me with eyes that spoke of too many hard days. I had never met a dog like Brea. Despite her disheveled appearance and timid demeanor, for reasons that I still can’t fully explain, I knew she was the dog for me.

Once Brea settled into her new environment, received a much-needed bath and grooming, and was treated for a myriad of health issues — including fleas, kennel cough, and intestinal parasites — her personality began to blossom. She is incredibly smart and loves learning new tricks. She is a foodie who loves indulging on an occasional In-N-Out patty. She is athletic and social at the dog park, yet shy around people. Above all, she is full of love and loyalty.

During the whirlwind of medical school, Brea became my anchor. Her daily needs kept me physically active and gave structure to my day, even when I felt overwhelmed. She helped me find joy in everyday moments and reminded me to remain grounded and grateful even in difficult times. By caring for her, I found healing in myself.

“During the whirlwind of medical school, Brea became my anchor. Her daily needs kept me physically active and gave structure to my day, even when I felt overwhelmed. She helped me find joy in everyday moments and reminded me to remain grounded and grateful even in difficult times. By caring for her, I found healing in myself.”

I’ve come to believe that behind every scared, timid, or even aggressive shelter dog is simply a dog in need of leadership and love. Unfortunately, many shelter dogs are overlooked and misunderstood, and their potential to become loving companions — and change someone’s life — is lost.

In Los Angeles, animal shelters are overwhelmed and understaffed. Countless dogs deteriorate physically and mentally while in the shelter environment, increasing their risk for euthanasia in order to make space for other dogs. When I learned about the Health Equity Challenge, I jumped at the opportunity to help shelter dogs have a better chance at life.

In addition to helping dogs like Brea, I also wanted to support foster youth. My inspiration comes from my grandpa, who became an orphan at a young age and entered foster care with no permanent place to call home. After 6th grade, he dropped out of school, choosing to work as a child laborer rather than to remain at the mercy of a system that failed him.

Although child safety laws have made significant progress since my grandpa’s time, foster care continues to pose a difficult and often traumatizing experience. Many youth are separated from family, placed in the care of strangers, and frequently moved between homes and schools. As a result, foster youth harbor some of the worst health outcomes compared to any other youth demographic. Without adequate support, 50% of foster youth become homeless or incarcerated within 2–4 years of aging out of the foster care system, according to the Child Welfare Information Gateway.

That’s why I am beyond grateful to have partnered with two incredible community-based organizations through the Health Equity Challenge.

The Academy Project has been serving foster and unhoused youth in Los Angeles since 2015, providing free after school programs that include tutoring, music enrichment, art therapy, and more. Their work gives youth a sense of community and a chance to discover their passions.

K9 Youth Alliance empowers youth from under-resourced communities by providing them with education and skill development in rewards-based dog training methods, humane education principles, and animal advocacy.

Together, we hope to provide foster youth with the healing benefits of the human-animal connection, while also giving shelter dogs the attention, guidance, and love they deserve. It’s a win-win!