Animal Welfare Professionals

Hello everyone.  I am a dog rescuer.  I'm also a licensed clinical social worker in NY who is currently completing my doctorate.  My manuscript is currently being torn apart by my Chair for the first round of edits.  Anyway, I am suggesting a new theory I'm calling Mutual Biological Healing.  Based on my own history rescuing many dogs with suspected histories of trauma, who were "shy" or under- or unsocialized, as well as my experience as a social worker working with people with histories of trauma, I am suggesting that both can actually heal each other.  This is not animal-assisted therapy.  Rather, I am suggesting, based on my understanding of epigenetics, social learning theory and attachment theory, that people with adverese childhood experiences and dogs with adverse early experiences can actually heal each other on a biological level.  My research has explored the human-dog bond over centuries as well as the oxytocin feedback loop that exists between people and their dogs that is akin to a mother and her baby.  What I am hoping is to find people who are interested in testing this theory.  I think that, if it works, it can save many dogs who are in our over-burdened shelter system, especially those with negative behaviors that push them to the top of the list.  If anyone is interested, or you know someone who might be, I would appreciate if you get in touch.