A groundbreaking new program at The Jacob’s Ladder Group pairs rescue dogs with children for mutual healing and growth
At The Jacob’s Ladder Group, we’ve always believed in the power of connection. For over three decades, we’ve helped more than 6,000 children and young adults with neurological disorders find their path to hope and healing through our Interpersonal Whole-Brain Model of Care® (IWBMC™). Now, we’re taking this commitment to the next level with the launch of Wild Heart Rescue. This innovative program brings together rescue dogs and children for a journey of mutual healing and transformation.
A Unique Bond: Children and Dogs Healing Together
“Our students often come to Jacob’s Ladder feeling lost and disconnected, seeking understanding, compassion, and healing,” explains Amy O’Dell, Founder and CEO of The Jacob’s Ladder Group. “For many, the unconditional love and connection they experience with animals are key to their transformation.”
This powerful insight forms the foundation of Wild Heart Rescue. The program will rescue dogs from local animal shelters, provide them with specialized training to work with children in therapeutic settings, and ultimately help them find loving forever homes.
“Animals, especially dogs, offer a unique ability to connect with children in ways that humans sometimes cannot,” O’Dell continues. “Research shows that dogs can read human emotions and offer unconditional love, making them the perfect partners in our students’ healing journeys. Wild Heart Rescue will allow students to receive the comfort of animals and give back by caring for and training dogs, helping both parties find their forever homes together.”
“Our students often come to Jacob’s Ladder feeling lost and disconnected, seeking understanding, compassion, and healing. For many, the unconditional love and connection they experience with animals are key to their transformation.”
– Amy O’Dell
How Wild Heart Rescue Works
The program operates through four key phases:
- Rescue and Training: Through our partnership with Mostly Mutts, a local non-profit animal rescue, we identify dogs with the right temperament for therapeutic work. These dogs will live on our 17-acre campus and receive specialized training to work with our students. The first dog will begin working with students in early 2025, with plans to have five dogs participating by year three.
- Therapeutic Engagement: Under the supervision of professional trainers and our animal care team, students participate in obedience training, animal care, and socialization activities as part of their individualized therapy plans.
- Community Outreach: Together, the dogs and students will visit local hospitals and assisted living facilities, providing comfort and companionship to patients and residents while developing the dogs’ social skills.
- Forever Homes: Once the dogs complete their training, our students will help promote them for adoption through events and online platforms, ensuring each dog finds a permanent, loving home.
A Community Effort
Wild Heart Rescue represents the power of community collaboration. This program has been made possible through the generous support of The Billi Marcus Foundation, The William B. Orkin Foundation, and The Morris Family Foundation.
“The Billi Marcus Foundation is thrilled to support this incredible initiative,” said Jason Smith with the Billi Marcus Foundation. “When Amy first shared her vision of using rescue dogs as therapeutic aids for the children at Jacob’s Ladder, and extending the program to help at local hospitals and senior care centers, I immediately recognized the potential for success. This program aligns with the core values of the Billi Marcus Foundation, which is committed to supporting children, service animals, and senior care. We are deeply grateful to the Orkin and Morris families for their generosity in helping us match funding to bring this vision to life. Our hope is that this program not only proves successful but also inspires other non-profits to adopt and implement this groundbreaking approach.”
Brian Orkin from The William B. Orkin Foundation added, “We are so grateful for the opportunity to support Jacob’s Ladder’s mission to provide these wonderful programs for the students & clients in their program. They continue making an impactful difference in the community.”
A New Chapter at The Jacob’s Ladder Group
Wild Heart Rescue will strengthen our existing Circle of Hope Animal-Assisted Intervention Program, specializing in serving students at The Hope School, our accredited Pre-K-12 private school for students diagnosed with complex emotional, behavioral, and relational disorders.
As we embark on this exciting new chapter, we invite you to follow our social media channels for updates on our canine friends and their transformative impact on our students’ lives.
The Jacob’s Ladder Group, founded in 1998, is a leader in educational and rehabilitative care for children and young adults with neurological disorders. Through our science-based approach focusing on neuroplasticity, we provide personalized therapeutic and educational interventions to meet each student’s unique needs.
