Pet Therapy
Pet Therapy at Endeavor Place Residential Treatment in Verndale, Minnesota
The human-animal bond is strong. Animals can make a positive influence on our lives, and it is unconditional love that animals provide to those who are in recovery.
Available 24 Hours
Residents Share Her Care
Adopted, Not Bought
Dogs make wonderful companions, and their never-ending love and companionship makes a positive impact on the lives of many. At Endeavor Place, a dog has been part of the household for most of the program’s history.
Meet Addie, the Resident Therapy Dog at Our Adolescent Residential Treatment Facility
Addie is the newest member of the Endeavor Place, LLC family. She was adopted on August 9, 2018 from The Babinski Foundation in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota, and was born on June 26, 2013.
She has a great personality — friendly, calm, outgoing and well trained. Addie lives in the facility and is available 24 hours a day to provide comfort or love.
Born
June 26, 2013.
Adopted
August 9, 2018, from The Babinski Foundation in Pequot Lakes, MN.
Temperament
Friendly, calm, outgoing and well trained.
How Residents Share Responsibility for Addie’s Daily Care
The residents are responsible for the care of Addie. They feed, walk, train and groom her.
This is deliberate, and it does more work than it appears to. A young man who has spent several years being looked after, chased after or given up on is suddenly the one something else depends on. Being needed by an animal that does not judge him is often the first responsibility he takes seriously without argument.
- Feeding, on a schedule that has to be kept whether or not anyone feels like it
- Walking, in every Minnesota season
- Training, which rewards patience and consistency
- Grooming and general day-to-day care
How Pet Therapy Supports Adolescent Males in Substance Use Disorder Treatment
Addie is used as part of the residents’ therapy. She helps reduce tension, ease loneliness and reduce the frustration a resident may feel.
| What She Helps With | Where It Shows Up in the House |
|---|---|
| Tension | After a hard group session, or when a resident needs to step away and settle. |
| Loneliness | In the early weeks, when home feels a long way off and the house is still unfamiliar. |
| Frustration | On the days when progress stalls and everything about the program feels pointless. |
| Responsibility | Daily care duties that residents keep to without being persuaded. |
Everyone benefits from Addie — the residents, the staff at the facility, and Addie herself.
Pet therapy sits alongside the clinical program rather than replacing any part of it. Group therapy, individual therapy and the Individual Treatment Plan remain the core of treatment.
The Dogs Who Have Been Part of Endeavor Place Over the Years
| Name | Years | Came From |
|---|---|---|
| Addie | Born June 26, 2013 | The Babinski Foundation, Pequot Lakes, MN |
| Angel | May 1, 2003 – June 25, 2018 | Humane Society, Brainerd, MN, adopted June 2007 |
| Mousey | January 2005 – October 11, 2015 | Part of the Endeavor Place household |
In Memory
Angel
May 1, 2003 – June 25, 2018
Angel was a canine member of the Endeavor Place staff. She was adopted in June 2007 from the Humane Society in Brainerd, Minnesota, and spent eleven years in the house. A great many young men passed through this program during those years, and she was there for all of them.
Mousey
January 2005 – October 11, 2015
Mousey was part of the Endeavor Place household for a decade and is remembered fondly by residents and staff alike.
Addie joined the household in August 2018, not long after Angel died. The residents at the time were part of bringing her home.
Contact Endeavor Place, LLC With Questions About Pet Therapy and Animals at the Facility
Families with allergy concerns, or with questions about a young man’s history around dogs, should raise it at intake so it can be planned for.
Endeavor Place, LLC
Address
Endeavor Place, LLC
Residential Treatment Program
PO Box 66
21539 120th Street
Verndale, MN 56481
About the information on this page
This page describes the role of a resident dog at Endeavor Place, LLC. It is general information only and not medical advice or a clinical recommendation. Pet therapy is a supportive element of the program and does not replace counseling or any other clinical service.
Animals in residence and program details can change over time. All information is subject to changes.