Don Smith, Phillip Valentine, Sandy Valentine, Melvin Cabrera
rebecca@ccar.us (Serena Saunders, Connecticut Community For Addiction Recovery (CCAR))
Fear of Leaving Your Pet Behind? How Pawsitive Recovery Supports Your Recovery Journey
Fear of Leaving Your Pet Behind? How Pawsitive Recovery Supports Your Recovery Journey
Fear of Leaving Your Pet Behind? How Pawsitive Recovery Supports Your Recovery Journey
Tuesday 1st July 2025
Explore how Pawsitive Recovery uses pet fostering to support sobriety journeys. Discover Serena Saunders' inspiring story.
25 minutes
Inspiring
Compassionate
Supportive
Healing
Engaging
About this podcast
Author:
Don Smith, Phillip Valentine, Sandy Valentine, Melvin Cabrera
Overview:
Categories:
Recovery Reimagined
Empowering Recovery Journeys
Family Recovery from Addiction
Creative Recovery Journeys
Innovative Treatments & Recovery Paths
Links:
Visit site
Episodes:
185 (View all)
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!Recovery Through Paws: How Pets Aid Sobriety
Episode Overview
- Pawsitive Recovery provides foster care for pets during treatment.
- Workshops integrate animals into recovery processes.
- Therapy dogs help open up discussions about trauma.
- Animal-human bonds are crucial in rebuilding personal relationships.
- The programme has expanded beyond Denver, offering national support.
"The only thing in your life that's going to show you unconditional love and support is your dog."
In this episode of Recovery Matters! Podcast, Serena Saunders, founder of Pawsitive Recovery, shares her remarkable journey from addiction to creating a unique programme that supports people in recovery through the bond with their pets. Serena recounts her turbulent childhood, marked by her mother's struggles with schizophrenia and her father's sociopathic tendencies, which set the stage for her early substance abuse. Despite these challenges, Serena's passion for animals became a lifeline during her recovery.
Serena explains how Pawsitive Recovery offers foster care for pets, allowing individuals to focus on their treatment without the worry of leaving their furry companions behind. This innovative approach not only alleviates the trauma of separation but also helps rebuild relationships with loved ones once sobriety is achieved. Serena’s dedication shines through as she describes how the programme has grown, now providing workshops and therapy dog visits to rehabilitation centres.
With a sprinkle of humour and heartfelt anecdotes, Serena illustrates the profound impact pets can have on mental health and recovery. Her story is a testament to resilience and the power of unconditional love from our four-legged friends. If you’ve ever wondered how a pet could be part of your recovery journey, this episode might just hold the answer.