Similar in concept and structure to the "Humane Society", our shelters would provide a temporary home for distressed, stray, and/or injured animals.

The original idea was inspired by the Stevens & Pruett Ranch, a project of the Stevens & Pruett Foundation for Children and Animals at www.rocktheranch.com. This project helps abused and disadvantaged children by having them live with and care for abused and neglected animals. "Valuable therapy can be derived from learning to live with and care for animals," says Pruett. We feel that this process could easily be translated to and benefit the recovering addict/alcoholic as well as providing a loving and caring environment for distressed, injured, and stray domestic animals. Daily interaction can help the addict and animals both regain some of that lost trust, self worth, and love which can help to begin the healing process for both.

At these shelters the animals would be housed, fed, given medical care, and trained so that they may be adopted out to good homes. The facilities would be non-profit organizations - funding to be provided by donations and a moderate fee for the animals to help cover the costs associated with the facility.

Ideally, the recovering persons would be housed at the facility much as they are at the Stevens and Pruett ranch. However, this would have to be determined on a location by location basis to consider the aspects of the local community, local, county, and state ordinaces, and the co-ed aspects of housing.

All aspects of operating these facilites would be handled by recovering addicts/alcoholics - including the board of directors. However, we would like the boards to consist of those recovering members that have had 5 years or more of continuous sobriety.