Love On Leashes: Bringing Paws and Purpose to Youth Mental Health

The power of dogs to break barriers and provide assistance has been an extremely effective tool to support California youth. photo: AdobeStock

In a world where anxiety, isolation, and stress increasingly weigh on young shoulders, a welcome alternative is stepping up to offer assistance and reassurance - on four legs with a wagging tail. 

Love On Leashes is more than just a program. For young people in need, it can be part of a holistic support system rooted in empathy, connection, and the healing power of the human-animal bond. By pairing highly trained service dogs with youth navigating physical or mental health challenges, it creates a safe, judgment-free space where healing can begin - with friendship, unconditional love, and some pretty amazing noses. 

Whether it's a gentle nuzzle during a tough moment, a shared walk that breaks through emotional walls, or an alert to changes in cortisol levels that signals an oncoming episode, service dogs can be powerful partners in emotional resilience and well-being. These four-legged allies are rewriting what it means to show up for struggling youth and to show them they don’t have to walk alone.

Love On Leashes was born out of the National Institute of Canine Service and Training (NICST), a nonprofit organization with years of experience training and placing service dogs since its inception as Dogs4Diabetics in 2004. Many teens and young adults today face anxiety, stress, and isolation - and that’s without additional stressors like living with Type 1 diabetes, a diagnosed severe anxiety disorder, or a post-traumatic injury. Love On Leashes is designed to enhance independence and improve the quality of life for young people whose health and safety can be supported by a specially trained service dog. 

Each service dog placement is made thoughtfully, with attention to the specific needs of the individual and the unique skills of the dog. These dogs can support individuals with a wide range of medical conditions that have a scent-related component - conditions where a trained dog can provide meaningful assistance -  such as PTSD, anxiety disorders, and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). The dogs are trained to detect changes in a person’s body chemistry and behavior, allowing them to alert or respond in ways that can prevent or reduce the severity of episodes.

More Programs, More Help

Another of NICST’s programs, First Response K9 (FRK9), has also proved helpful to young people in need. While designed to provide PTSD dogs for first responders and first responder agencies, at least one of these dogs has gone on to work with students.

FRK9 Handler Kathleen Brown is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for the Fremont Police Department. She received an FRK9 Agency Dog - Maddox, a black Labrador Retriever - who has become a beloved part of the department’s School Resource Program. 

A firm believer in the power of dogs to break barriers and provide assistance, Kathleen now has Maddox join her when she travels to school campuses. As she explains, “ The kids all ask for Maddox and know his name.  He has had a profoundly positive impact in his short time with me.  One youth agreed to stay sober and participate in counseling services if Maddox would come to sessions.  Another young man who was in school and having angry outbursts in class was able to sit with Maddox for five minutes and deescalate his anger and return to class, something that, per staff, would normally take on average 45 minutes….Everyone Maddox has met, young or old, happy or angry, wants to stop and pet him, talk in a silly voice to him, and tell me that just a few minutes petting him makes their day better.  Everyone needs a Maddox.” 

All dogs in NICST’s programs are provided at no charge to the client or agency. For the Love On Leashes program, applicants must have a qualifying disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), meaning their condition must substantially limit one or more major life activities, and individuals must submit a letter from a licensed medical professional that clearly outlines their diagnosis and supports the need for a scent-detection or medical alert dog. To learn more, please visit OurDogsSaveLives.org.