Hounds Who Heal

Chris Kent is a multi-skilled professional who has worked with troubled and vulnerable children and their families for 40 years. Working in education, social care, fostering, family support, residential childcare, and youth work, she gained well-rounded experience and considerable expertise. In 2008 she decided to combine her two major passions: working with people, and working alongside animals – in this case, dogs.With her family of ex-homeless dogs, she created the K9 Project, a non-profit organisation that has helped hundreds of children, teenagers, and adults make changes and achieve their full potential. The K9 Project is unique in its innovative, creative and person-centred approach.

The K9 Project is a unique organisation that works with ex-shelter dogs, providing therapeutic education, personal development, and canine-assisted coaching. Heart-warming, educational, inspiring, funny - yet sharply realistic - this book tells the story of human and canine companionship, courage, and resolve. Each dog has a unique gift that helps motivation, self belief, and that often elusive feeling of connection. Telling the story of each of the dogs, and many of the people they helped along the way, you'll also learn from the people whose lives have been transformed, and from Chris Kent, founder of this unique project. Discover how the special dogs of the K9 Project have shaped so many lives.- Australian Dog Lover. Hounds Who Heal is an exploration of nurturing positive interactions between two unique species, Dogs and humans have evolved and travelled together since the Pleistocene Ice Age, 36,000 years ago. Chris believes in continuing the evolution and adaption of this unique relationship in the Anthropocene's high tech world. Hounds Who Heal explores an educational strategy that empowers dogs and people to interact, to enhance and to enrich each other. This book is an educational tool box of ideas for those who believe in dogs and people merging together and gaining wisdom and strength from each other. - Geelong Obedience Dog Club. It's a well known fact that dog owners tend to be healthier and happier than people who don't own dogs. In fact, dogs have the ability to change people's lives for the better. Hounds Who Heal is the charming new book by Chris Kent who founded the K9 Project, an organisation that helps disadvantaged and troubled youngsters. Chris started her career working as a probation officer. During this time she also found the time to re-home an assortment of rescue dogs with the help of her husband Kevin. The K9 Project was created after Chris cared for Miles aged 15 who had spent his life in and out of the care system. Miles was certainly a challenge, displaying aggressive behaviour and generally throwing his weight around. However, Miles was shocked when he saw Ruby, a Staffie-cross, bully several other dogs owned by Chris. Watching this act of over-excited dog play helped Miles understand the effects of bullying and he resolved to change his own behaviour. And so the K9 Project was born. Throughout this book we discover just how many young lives have been enriched by the healing power of dogs. The book also includes some lovely photos of both the dos and youngster who have benefited from the amazing work of Chris and the K9 Project. Hounds Who Heal is a lovely read, and shows us just how special the bond between humans and dogs really is. - Pet Owners Association. Every so often, there is a book that you find so enjoyable and enthralling that you don't want it to come to an end. This book is definitely one of those! Chris Kent eloquently tells the story of how the K9 Project came to be. This unique venture has seen Chris and her family of rescue dogs help to turn around the lives of those struggling on life's joinery. The story of how the K9 Project developed and its continued success is both uplifting and inspirational, told in Chris' warm and engaging style. There are chapters devoted to the dogs themselves, as well as to the people they have helped. The canine star of the project, Cassie, has her own chapter, and Chris' love and admiration for each of the dogs stones through. They each have their own unique and sometimes sad stories – as do the people who have found their lives transformed thanks to the work of Chris and her amazing canine therapists! I found myself both laughing and crying at various points in the book. There are some super photos too. For anyone who believes dogs can help people on many ways, this book is definitely an essential read. I really loved it and will certainly read it again. – Dogs Monthly. "Hound Who Heal: People and dogs - its a kind of magic" by Chris Kent is the story of the K9 Project, which is a unique organisation that works with rescue dogs who now act as therapy dogs. Heart-warming and educational "Hounds Who Heal" presents illustrative examples of human/canine companionship as isolated adults and children learn to believe in themselves and make the often-elusive connection to a friend. Telling the story of each of the dogs, and many of the people they helped along the way, readers will learn from the people they helped along the way, readers will learn from the people whose lives have been transformed. Chris Kent is founder of this unique project, has her story of laughter, frustration, joy, and tears of the Project's eight-year journey. An inherently fascinating and exceptionally informative read, "Hounds Who Heal: People and dogs - it's a kind of magic" is an especially recommended addition to both community and academic library Pets/Wildlife collections. – Midwest Book Review.

• The desire for human connection is a fundamental need. For some, however, the closest they come to this connection begins with a dog. This is the story of six abandoned dogs, who ended up living together and inspiring the development of the unique K9 Project. The story of the people they met, the ones they helped, and the ones they couldn't.