Bickell Foundation To Partner Rescued Pit Bulls With Abused Children

By Margaret Paulson in News on Aug 7, 2015 9:49PM

via Facebook

Blackhawks player Bryan Bickell and his wife Amanda have long been advocates for and rescuers of abused and abandoned pit bulls, and they’ve now set their sites on helping abused children.

In a partnership with The Hephzibah Children’s Association, the Bryan & Amanda Bickell Foundation has launched Paws for Strength, a program that pairs rescued pit bulls with children living at the Oak Park-based Hephzibah House.

During the 8-week program, children teach their “adopted” dogs tricks and present them during a show at the end of the program, upon which they receive a certificate. Animals have long been used in therapy programs for children, and with their loyal and gentle natures, pit bulls are a great match for these types of programs.

Though the program is new, Amanda Bickell told DNAinfo they are already seeing that “the kids are able to relate to these dogs."

"The dogs live with families now, they're able to love again and be happy again," she said. "It gives the children hope that they can have a bright future. It's pretty touching,” she said.

The Hephzibah House is one of the oldest social service agencies in the area, founded by Mary Wessels in 1897. Hephzibah has group homes, foster care, adoption services, day care and other programs to support highly vulnerable children and their families.