The initiative led by the Philippine Human-Animal Bond Institute will develop animal-assisted services for trauma survivors and care providers, marking a first for the Philippines and Southeast Asia within the Foundation’s grant program.
A Philippine initiative exploring how trained therapy dogs can complement support for trauma survivors and their care providers has received a grant from the Royal Canin Foundation, marking the first time a project from the Philippines and Southeast Asia has been selected for support by the global foundation.
Called Brave Tails, the program is being developed by the Philippine Human-Animal Bond Institute (PHABI), the nonprofit organization behind Communitails. It aims to use structured, trauma-informed interactions between people and trained therapy dogs as a complement to other forms of support for individuals affected by trauma.
The grant creates an opportunity for PHABI and its partners to strengthen local capacity for animal-assisted services while placing participant safety, informed consent and animal welfare at the center of program delivery.
The initiative was highlighted during “In Good Company with Communitails,” an event hosted by Royal Canin Philippines at the Royal Canin Educational Hub in October 2026. The gathering brought together media, advocates and partners to discuss the foundation’s work, the planned implementation of Brave Tails and responsible practices for animal-assisted services.
Developing a Structured Approach to Trauma Support
Survivors of abuse and exploitation may face lasting psychosocial challenges, while the people supporting them can experience emotional strain, burnout and secondary trauma. Access to appropriate mental health services also remains a concern for many communities.
Brave Tails is being developed to respond to these needs through trained Human Animal Teams, pairing therapy dogs with the human professionals who work alongside them.
Rather than relying on informal interactions between people and pets, the initiative is designed around preparation, screening, consent procedures, participant safeguards and animal-welfare protocols. These measures are intended to help ensure that activities are appropriate for participants and that dogs are supported throughout their involvement.
“What we’re building through Brave Tails is not simply a series of interactions between people and dogs. It’s a structured, trauma-informed approach designed around trained Human Animal Teams, participant safety, informed consent, and animal welfare,” said Dr. Ginger Ramirez, PHABI co-founder.
She added that the foundation’s support would help the organization strengthen the work thoughtfully and responsibly.
Animal-assisted services can be used alongside other forms of care, but they should not be treated as a replacement for professional mental health treatment. Their suitability and effectiveness depend on the program design, the needs of participants and the quality of implementation.
Community Partnerships Inform Program Development
Brave Tails is being developed in partnership with The Paper Project, Inc., which works with communities affected by trauma and adversity.
The collaboration is intended to bring community-level insights into program planning, helping the initiative account for differences in participants’ experiences, needs and comfort with animal-assisted activities.
Atty. Lawrence Aritao, co-founder of The Paper Project, said responsible support requires safety, consent, choice and appropriate preparation. He also emphasized the need to consider the well-being of both people and animals throughout the process.
The partnership reflects a broader operational challenge for programs addressing complex social needs: designing services that are not only compassionate in intent but also guided by clear protocols, community input and appropriate safeguards.
Royal Canin Foundation Expands Its Global Reach
The Royal Canin Foundation supports initiatives that explore the role of cats and dogs in human health and welfare, as well as projects supporting search-and-rescue dogs.
According to the announcement, the foundation assesses prospective projects through a review process that considers impact, feasibility, sustainability and animal welfare.
Its 2026 portfolio includes initiatives addressing different needs, from support for war-affected communities in Ukraine to therapeutic interventions for older adults in Spain and cat-assisted programs for hospitalized children in Italy.
Brave Tails joins these projects as a locally led initiative focused on trauma-informed animal-assisted services. Its selection brings international foundation support to a Philippine organization developing an approach informed by local partners and care settings.
The grant also continues the collaboration between Royal Canin Philippines and Communitails. Their previous activities have included storybook-reading programs and community education efforts promoting empathy and responsible pet ownership.
Building Local Capacity and Documenting Progress
With the grant, PHABI plans to expand Brave Tails to reach more trauma survivors and care providers, strengthen its service model and develop approaches that can be sustained over time.
Since receiving the support, Communitails has continued preparations through program planning, partner engagement, Human Animal Team development and capability-building activities.
The initiative also plans to document its experiences and learning throughout the two-year period. This may help strengthen local expertise and contribute to a better understanding of how animal-assisted services can be responsibly implemented in the Philippines.
Animal welfare is a central consideration in that process. Participating dogs are treated as members of trained Human Animal Teams, with safeguards intended to protect their health, comfort, rest and overall well-being.
Gerard Poa, country head of Royal Canin Philippines, said meaningful impact requires both compassion and structure, with responsible animal welfare and community partnerships forming part of the initiative.
For the organizations involved, Brave Tails represents an opportunity to develop local expertise while exploring how the human-animal bond can complement support for people facing difficult circumstances.
The program’s longer-term contribution will depend on how it is implemented, how well its safeguards are maintained and what its planned documentation reveals about participant needs, animal welfare and service delivery.
By supporting a Philippine-led initiative, the Royal Canin Foundation and its partners are seeking to build a responsible framework for animal-assisted services that considers the well-being of people and animals together.