In the Greater Houston area, rescue dogs are often survivors of abuse, neglect and cruelty. In her role as Director of Healing Species Texas, Joy Southard brings these resilient animals into local schools and youth detention centers to demonstrate lessons of compassion and courage. Through its programming, Healing Species Texas teaches kids a process from which to understand and overcome abuse, neglect, and grief, while also educating them about self-esteem, conflict resolution, anger management, respect for the feelings of others, and in gaining success through acts of compassion and responsibility instead of returning "violence for violence."