The Human-Animal Bond. What it means.
Friends, partners, family…
HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND: A Woman, Her Horses, Her Touching Story & You
“The connection between humans and animals can heal, transform, and even save lives,” said Jackie Ducci. Jackie is the founder of The Human-Animal Alliance.
“These grants are more than funding. They are investments in programs that bring healing to trauma survivors. And comfort to those navigating difficulties. We are honored to collaborate with these exceptional organizations. Enabling people to experience meaningful relationships with animals when they need it most.”
We love animals!
I know you love ’em too. Or you wouldn’t be on this site. Civilized Bears is all about telling stories of our animals and our loving relationship with them. Even my literary history posts about our Mounted Police fall into this category, eh? Since our Mounties are all about their magnificent horses and loyal sled dogs.
Jackie Ducci is my latest heroine. She’s out there telling about our Human-Animal connection. And handing out grants to help other folks with the same beliefs.
“As a child, I struggled with severe social anxiety,” Jackie explains.
“Despite my strong grades, people often mistook my shyness for aloofness, lack of intelligence, or disinterest. I was told incessantly in school that there was something wrong with me. And that my quiet, introverted nature was essentially a character flaw. My lowest moment came in the 6th grade when a teacher told me that I would ‘never amount to anything in life’ because ‘the world belongs to extroverts.’
“But through it all, there was one saving grace — my horses.”
“In the presence of horses, I felt confident and connected. They saw and accepted me for exactly who I was. When the rest of the world didn’t get me. The bonds we formed were deep, genuine, and 100% nonverbal. Showing me that my value as a human being had everything to do with who I was. And nothing to do with what I did or didn’t have to say…
“After being told relentlessly by humans that I had no worth if I had no words, the horses taught me that was simply not true. It was a profound lesson. That singlehandedly changed the state of my mental health. And my life path. To this day, my animals are still the first place I turn for support when navigating life’s challenges.”
Jackie’s Human-Animal Alliance (H-AA) is a nonprofit. It supports programs that champion the power of human-animal connection. And is thrilled to share its 2024 impact. With $87,500 awarded to eight outstanding organizations nationwide, H-AA passionately advocates for the importance of human-animal relationships. And their life-changing influence on individuals and communities.
Drum Roll, please…
H-AA’s Eight 2024 grants are:
- PACT for Animals (Gladwyne, PA): $30,000. To support deployed military members’ pets through The Human-Animal Alliance Angel Fund (December 2024).
- Beautiful Together Animal Sanctuary (Chapel Hill, NC): $15,000. For animal-assisted learning opportunities for children (December 2024).
- Pawster Nashville (Nashville, TN): $10,000. To assist military veterans with pet foster care and housing-related pet fees (December 2024).
- BARK Therapy Dogs (Long Beach, CA): $2,500. To establish The Human-Animal Alliance Library in an animal-assisted learning program (December 2024).
- The Street Dog Coalition (Asheville, NC): $10,000. For veterinary care and supplies for pets displaced by Hurricane Helene (October 2024).
- Pawsitive Beginnings (Key Largo, FL): $10,000. To create The Human-Animal Alliance Healing Den at their fox sanctuary for therapy sessions (August 2024).
- Tomorrow’s Rainbow (Coconut Creek, FL): $5,000. To support therapy horses in equine-assisted programs for bereaved children (May 2024).
- Shepherd Youth Ranch (Creedmoor, NC): $5,000. For therapy horses in equine-assisted programs for trauma-exposed youth and families (May 2024).
And these grants were just for last Year!
Do You love Wolf Stories?
Read my story of the Wolf who rescued a Husky!
READ WOLFBLOOD — MY MOST POPULAR ANIMAL YARN: “I LOVE THE HAPPY ENDING!”
“I JUST READ WOLFBLOOD AGAIN FOR GOOD MEASURE. ONE FOR ANY WOLF LOVER. ENJOYED IT BUT WISH IT WAS A FULL LENGTH NOVEL.” – Gina Chronowicz @ginachron
“GREAT SHORT STORY! DOES REMIND ME OF CALL OF THE WILD, WHITE FANG…” – Evelyn @evelyn_m_k
An “entertaining and affectionate” narrative in the Jack London Tradition. Story of a lone Gray Wolf and his quest for a place in the far-flung forests of the feral North. WOLFBLOOD: A Wild Wolf, A Half-Wild Husky & A Wily Old Trapper
And you can see one of my most popular posts — “NORTH-WEST MOUNTED POLICE DOGS: Huskies and Other Sled Dogs”
And the Founding Women of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals movement, first sanctioned by Queen Victoria. See Women Pioneers of Animal Rights – from Mary Tealby to Ingrid Newkirk
About The Human-Animal Alliance
The Human-Animal Alliance (H-AA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for the power human-animal connection. Through its support of programs nationwide, it’s keeping people and animals together. H-AA is impacting lives — one human-animal connection at a time.
The Human-Animal Alliance’s overheads are privately funded. Every dollar donated by the public goes directly to helping humans and animals. To learn more and support their work, visit https://h-aa.org/donate.
SOURCE Human-Animal Alliance, PRNewswire & CivilizedBears.com
TAGS Animal welfare grants, Human-Animal bond, Human Animal book, Human-Animal connection, her horses, her story, Jackie Ducci, relationships with animals.
