Inspiration
A Life Transformed: Larry & Emma’s Story
Larry Pearlman was born blind and faced immense physical and emotional challenges. By his late 50s, he had lost his motivation to get out of bed, his health declining due to prolonged immobility. Nothing seemed to help—until the day his cousin, Cantor Steven Puzarne, brought his dog, Emma, for a visit.
The change was immediate, remarkable, and life-affirming.
Over the next two years, Larry went from feeling hopeless to celebrating a major milestone—his adult Bar Mitzvah—just before his 60th birthday. His deep bond with Emma played a key role in his emotional and physical recovery, showing firsthand the incredible healing power of animals.
This experience opened Steve’s eyes to the profound impact animal companionship can have on human well-being, inspiring a mission to bring this healing to others.
With a Dog and a Drum: Bringing Larry Back to Life
Click the picture to watch the short documentary.
Dr. Lorin Lindner: Healing People and Animals Together
Reading Birds of a Feather: A True Story of Love, Hope, and the Healing Power of Animals by Dr. Lorin Lindner was a transformational experience. It inspired our mission to combine the healing of animals with the healing of people.
Dr. Lindner’s groundbreaking work began with caring for traumatized veterans and rescued animals, leading to the creation of the first work therapy program for veterans at a VA. As a psychologist dedicated to helping homeless veterans and those with traumatic stress, she has pioneered innovative programs that use the power of human-animal connections for healing.
Her impact includes:
--Serving as Clinical Director of a Homeless Veterans Residential Program at the West L.A. VA
--Founding Serenity Park Sanctuary, an animal-assisted therapy program for veterans with PTSD
--Creating Wolves and Warriors, where combat veterans care for rescued animals
--Hosting a docu-series on Animal Planet, Wolves and Warriors
--Publishing research on complex trauma in leading psychology journals
Dr. Lindner continues her work as a Clinical Supervisor and private practice psychologist, bringing hope and healing to those who need it most.
