The bond between humans and animals is a mutually beneficial relationship.  Studies have shown the positive impact of human-animal interactions on individual and community health.  Research has concluded that tangible benefits exist when animals are present in people’s lives. 

For example, pet ownership lowers blood pressure response to mental stress[1], pet owners have a higher one-year survival rates after heart attacks[2], and ownership of pets, particularly dogs, may reduce cardio-vascular risk[3].  Furthermore, one study has shown that pet ownership contributes to a decreased frequency of doctor’s visits[4] thereby resulting in huge savings on public health expenditures.

Pet dogs are extremely beneficial to their owners and are valuable companions to children, elderly, veterans, those living alone, or suffering in any way.

For many alone or at-risk individuals, their dog is the only reason to go on living.  Keeping dogs out of shelters not only saves the dog's life, but also brings a huge relief to owners who can keep their beloved companion by their side contining to receive the great benefits of that bond.

The CBF strengthens this bond with our Jazzy’s Place and CRiSP programs thereby fulfilling the overall objective of “Saving Both Ends of the Leash.

The Jazzy’s Place program provides for the pet-dog and owner to maintain a close bond at home rather than being separated in an animal shelter.
The CRiSP program will serve as a viable alternative to maintain what can become a difficult, or impossible, close bond between owners and their beloved dog during both of their lives.

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[1] Allen, K., Shykoff, B. E., & Joseph L. Izzo, J. (2001). Pet ownership, but not ACE inhibitor therapy, blunts home blood pressure responses to mental stress. Hypertension, 38, 815-820.

[2] Friedmann, E., Katcher, A. H., Lynch, J. J., & Thomas, S. A. (1980). Animal companions and one-year survival of patients after discharge from a coronary care unit. Public Health Reports, 95(4), 307-312.

[3] Levine, G.N.; Allen, K.; Braun, L.T.; Christian, H.E.; Friedmann, E.;Taubert, K.A.; Thomas, S.A.; Wells, D.L.; Lange, R.A. Pet ownership and cardiovascular risk: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation 2013, 127, 2353–2363.

[4] Heady, B.; Grabka, M.; Kelley, J.; Reddy, P.; Tseng, Y.-P. Pet ownership is good for your health and saves public expenditure. Australian and German longitudinal evidence. Aust. Soc. Monit. 2002, 5, 93–99

Background

The Caplan-Bensley Foundation​

The Caplan-Bensley Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization established in 2007 by David Reid Caplan and Maria Bensley Caplan.  The CBF is a focused, non-profit organization that believes at-risk people along with their vulnerable pets are all members of a family and deserve a safe and comfortable place in society. 

The CBF’s overall mission is to promote and support a society where every resource and every life, both human and animal, is valued and preserved. 

The CBF’s first initiative, the Jazzy’s Place grant program, was established in 2013 to help families in need nourish their beloved pet-dogs at home, thereby keeping them out of a shelter. This initiative provides individuals and families along with their canine companions, a safe, comfortable and well-nourished life. The program’s primary objective is to make dog-food available to those facing difficult times, so that no family ever has to abandon their beloved pet-dog.

The current objective of the Jazzy’s Place program is to expand the number of food bank participants. New initiatives will be introduced to increase the number of individuals and families that would be able to keep their pet-dogs in a home and comfortable surroundings, rather than surrendering them to a shelter.

This includes establishing a preferred network of suppliers where food banks can purchase short-expiration dog-food at drastically reduced prices. Also being examined is a complementary dog-food distribution program that would provide delivery and auxiliary storage to alleviate space constraints, thereby increasing the availability of both human and dog food.

The Caplan Bensley Foundation plans to establish the Canine Residence in Supporting People (CRiSP) program as a new initiative. This will provide dog-owners who are incapacitated, handicapped, living alone or in assisted living facilities, or facing other difficulties, a comfortable and loving home for their pet-dogs.

CRiSP ensures that a wonderful lifestyle will continue for the pet-dog upon the demise of its owner. It will also offer community service to patients in hospitals, nursing homes, veteran’s facilities, and those living alone, or in assisted living facilities.

These benefits will be provided by Residence Supervisor volunteers who will be identified, screened and selected from those who have experience in the care and handling of dogs.

Both owners and their lifelong pet-dogs can live comfortably together, thereby fulfilling the CBF mission of “Saving Both Ends of the Leash”.  

Caplan-bensley Foundation Dog Food initiative

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