Humans & Animals Learning Together (H.A.L.T.)
Our Mission
Located in Knoxville, TN, H.A.L.T. (Humans & Animals Learning Together) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) program that provides therapeutic intervention for at-risk adolescents through a series of dog obedience training classes. Dogs are rescued from local animal shelters to participate in the class. With the help of adult volunteers, adolescents teach the dogs basic obedience commands, providing therapeutic intervention for the student trainers while increasing the adoptability of shelter dogs. The dogs are adopted into suitable homes after the class is complete.
OUR OBJECTIVES:
- To offer adolescents an opportunity to develop a positive sense of accomplishment, self-respect, self-esteem, and pride.
- To offer adolescents an opportunity to improve specific living skills such as assertiveness, patience, responsibility, staying on task, communication, and commitment.
- To introduce adolescents to career opportunities in animal-related fields.
- To teach the adolescents about responsible pet ownership, reasons for pet over-population, and the importance of spaying and neutering.
- To provide a successful and fun experience for adolescents and dogs.
- To increase the adoptability of selected adult dogs through basic obedience training and improved social skills.
Adoption Policy
Potential adopters submit an application, as a first step. The application review includes your veterinary and personal reference checks and takes up to a week to complete. Once an adoption application is approved, H.A.L.T. representatives conduct a home visit to ensure that the dog you’ve selected will do well in your home. While there, we observe the H.A.L.T. dog’s reaction to other pets and family members in the home, check the security of a fence if applicable, and look for any areas that might present a safety concern. Upon approval of an application, successful home visit, and overnight visit, we complete our process with an adoption contract. Finally, the dogs go to their new homes after the completion of the 4-week H.A.L.T. class session.