When Curiosity Became a Mission
Hi, my name is Amy Bahr. Over twenty-two years ago, I signed up for a therapy dog training class out of pure curiosity. I had no idea what to expect, but the experience changed the trajectory of my life. I vividly remember a classmate of mine—a college professor with a Ph.D. joking that the therapy dog certification was more difficult than earning her doctorate. Her reasoning has stuck with me ever since: "With a Ph.D., you only have to rely on yourself but this certification, requires that you rely on the heart and soul of another living being."
We both passed that test, and today, that initial spark of curiosity has grown into a mission. Helpful Hounds now visits over 60 facilities throughout the Five Boroughs, Long Island, and Westchester. Most of our dogs and cats are rescues—animals who were given a second chance at life and have repaid that gift by becoming absolute superstars.
There is nothing they love more than providing the kind of unconditional support that only an animal can give and meeting clients exactly where they are!
How Do We Help?
Our Animal-Assisted Interventions are goal-oriented. Our primary mission is to promote relaxation; we believe when our clients are relaxed, they are better equipped to learn, focus, and retain information.
Beyond general stress relief, our Animal-Assisted Interventions can be tailored to meet different needs.
Ways we assist:
Emotional Support: A familiar, furry face can open doors that words sometimes can't. Our animals provide comfort and connection for clients navigating anxiety, social challenges, or emotional dysregulation — helping them feel safe enough to engage.
Resilience & Recovery: Navigating PTSD or addiction recovery is hard work. The unconditional acceptance of an animal can be genuinely grounding easing anxiety, softening emotional triggers, and offering a moment of calm connection when it's needed most.
Life Skills Development: Interacting with animals is a natural, engaging way to build real-world skills. Caring for, communicating with, and responding to an animal teaches responsibility, empathy, patience, and non-verbal communication foundational skills that transfer directly to daily life, relationships, and the workplace.
Academic Achievement: Supporting learning, focus, and skill-building for students and individuals in vocational training. Our non-judgmental animals create a calm, pressure-free environment where diverse learners can engage more confidently and retain more effectively.
Staff Wellness: Even the hardest-working teams need a moment to breathe. A visit from one of our animals offers staff a genuine ‘moment of paws’ and mental health break that makes a real difference.
At Helpful Hounds we know healing is hard work, so we help bring joy to the journey!
Inspiring the Next Generation of Healers
For me, the mission of Helpful Hounds goes beyond the work we do in the field today—it’s about ensuring the healers of tomorrow truly understand the profound power of the animal bond.
My passion for giving back has led me from the halls of hospitals and into the university classroom. I am deeply dedicated to sharing the science and the heart of Animal-Assisted Intervention with the students who will soon become the doctors, nurses, social workers, and therapists of our future.
As a Guest Lecturer at Colby College, I have the privilege of teaching a comprehensive 3-credit course on the clinical applications and therapeutic benefits of animal partnerships. Whether I am teaching a semester-long course or guest lecturing at various institutions, my goal is to bridge the gap between field experience and academic study, helping students integrate compassion into their professional practice.
I have been honored to share the mission of Helpful Hounds with students at:
Brooklyn College
Hofstra University
LIU Post
Rutgers University
Saint Joseph’s College of Maine
Stony Brook University