“Bring me your hungry, your poorly nourished, your vulnerable dogs,
seeking to be protected, fed, loved, and to love.
These devoted, affectionate souls in this harsh unforgiving world.
Send them, the unfed, the helpless, the less fortunate, to me.”
Inspired by the Emma Lazarus sonnet on the Statue of Liberty.
Providing proper nourishment for individuals and their pet dogs is essential for the special relationship of humans bonding with their dogs. To fulfill this human-pet bond, it is equally important to support those facing other difficulties that impact their ability to care for their dog.
Jazzy’s Place and CRiSP permit dog owners to continue maintaining a close bond rather than their pet dogs being placed in an animal shelter or abandoned. These two programs champion the bonded relationship between owners and their beloved pet dogs during their entire lives together.
The CBF is acutely aware of the important role canines play in a human’s life and health. Research has concluded that tangible, mutual benefits exist when dogs are present in people’s lives. Studies have proven the positive impact of human-canine interactions on individual and community health.
For example, pet ownership lowers blood pressure in response to mental stress[1], pet owners have higher “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 visits[4], resulting in huge savings on public health expenditures.
Pet dogs are extremely beneficial to their owners and are valuable companions to children, the elderly, veterans, and those living alone, or suffering in any way. For many alone or at-risk individuals, their pet dog is the only reason to go on living.
Keeping dogs out of shelters not only saves the life of the dog but also brings huge relief to the owners who can keep their beloved companion and continue to receive the great benefits of that bond. These bonds between humans and their lifelong pet dogs are preserved and strengthened through the Jazzy’s Place and CRiSP programs.
[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). Canine 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 expenditures. Australian; German longitudinal evidence. Aust. Soc. Monit. 2002, 5, 93–99.Type your paragraph here.
The Caplan Bensley Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose overall mission
is to provide individuals and families facing difficulties along with their canine companions, a well-nourished safe, comfortable, and secure life.
To fulfill the strategic objective of “Saving Both Ends of the Leash®”, the CBF sponsors two complementary programs: Jazzy’s Place and Canine Residences in Supporting People (CRiSP)
The Jazzy’s Place program provides grants for free dog food to households in need so that their beloved pet dog can stay at home and never placed in an animal shelter or abandoned
Grants are made available through an extensive network of fully vetted food banks and pantries that are part of the nationwide Feeding America® program. Additionally, the CBF would like to expand by offering grants beyond this existing distribution network.
Households facing hardships are often forced to choose between feeding themselves or their pet dog or having to surrender their lifelong pet to an animal shelter. Families no longer need to make the unbearable decision of taking food off the table to feed their beloved pet dogs.
By giving grants that provide free dog food to those truly in need, Jazzy’s Place solves this terrible dilemma and preserves the enduring relationship bond between dog and owner.
To preserve and continue this bond between humans and their lifelong companions, the CBF has established a new initiative - Canine Residences in Supporting People (CRiSP).
CRiSP awards grants to canine rescue and other nonprofit animal welfare organizations who identify qualified households and facilitate rehoming dogs for those physically, or otherwise unable to keep their pet dog for non-financial reasons. These grants provide an opportunity for dogs to have a permanent loving home, including regular visits with their owners, rather than being abandoned or forced to live in an animal shelter.
Founders David Reid and Maria Bensley Caplan have fully subsidized the Jazzy’s Place grant program since inception and will additionally support fundraising expenses for CRiSP.
Furthermore, they will make Millbrook-Estate® available as the CBF operational headquarters and for other canine welfare organizations to conduct special events, with contributions dedicated to benefiting their charitable causes.