Therapeutic Ranch for Animals and Kids (TRAK)

Strengthening kids and community through animal interaction.

TRAK's vision is to create confident and empowered people through the power of the human-animal bond. We serve children and adults in the community, both at our centrally-located ranch, as well as in hospitals, schools and memory care facilities. Animals love without judgment, and so do our people. We deliver #trakmagic!

Testimonials

Special Needs Teacher
I teach a life skills class for individuals with a wide range of disabilities. I began taking my class to work at TRAK one morning per week this past January. TRAK has been a wonderful experience for all of the students that I bring with me, and feels like an extension of our school program. We are able to work on transition skills in the community that focus on future job skills such as following a boss's directions, completing a job, working alongside co-workers, and being professional in a work environment. Working with the TRAK animals is an incredible incentive to students and brings out the very best work ethic in them.
The TRAK experience is therapeutic for all of the students and teachers who come with us. It bonds us as a group and we leave feeling accomplished, happy and connected. Everyone benefits from its service. But the "magic" it has worked with my one student in particular is not something I could have created without the incredible opportunity of working with animals in such a loving setting. The people who run TRAK are kind, organized, clear, generous, and have a profound understanding of the therapeutic aspect of working with animals. The staff and animals of TRAK are doing the deepest therapeutic work by just being available to us. It has changed our world and I am greatly thankful.
-Danielle Anderson, Independent Life Skills Teacher, Flowing Wells High School

Volunteer:
TRAK has developed a lot in the past four years I have been here. I always tell people that when you arrive at TRAK it's hard to leave. I have developed a lot as a person and my position at the ranch. TRAK is a fun place to watch develop and grow in the community.
- Tayler P.

Youth Volunteer:
TRAK, a place I now call my second home. I've been here for about 5 years and I've only had positive experiences, and it's only helped me grow and find a place where I belong. It's a place where mistakes are ok because they can be fixed. It's a place where we build each other up and it's a place where friends become family. I can't think of a better place to be when it comes to animals and fun. I truly wouldn't know where I'd be if I hadn't come to TRAK.
- Liat S.

TMC Hospital For Children:
"One little girl particularly wanted to see the chickens. When the chicken was placed on her bed, she kept feeling all the different textures that the chicken had. She usually does not speak, but spoke to the chicken...TRAK is one of the most comprehensively therapeutic, successful and fun program to come to hospitalized children that I have ever seen. It was wonderful to feel the excitement, not just from patients and families, but the entire staff when the ranch animals visited on Saturday morning. Nurses and volunteers participated fully in the event, holding and petting the animals and directing the TRAK volunteers to patient's rooms who they felt could benefit from a ranch animal visit. The TRAK volunteers did an outstanding job in creating the enthusiasm and success for the program."
- Kathleen Wolfe, Child Life Manager, Tucson Medical Center

Volunteer's Parent:
"My son Bradley has volunteered at Trak for a year now. He has high functioning autism. His life has been greatly enriched by the animals at Trak. The staff and volunteers are friendly and so hardworking. What a blessing for our community!"
- Maricela, Bradley's Mom

Field Trip:
My son and I had the best time during the field trip to TRAK. For the first time I did not feel afraid of horses. The safety you explain to the kiddos is amazing!! Thank you for allowing me to see the beauty of horses!!!

Paws Radio Pet Vet:
"A double dose of goodness." - Paul Blaushild

Rider's Parent:
"My daughter has been riding at TRAK for almost 2 years. It's a great place to meet great people and animals too." -Anonymous

Handmaker Assisted Living and Senior Care:
We began our tour of nearly 90 animals with meeting three dog "partners" in the office. Jill introduced us to their newest "partner," not yet named, a sweet puppy which just joined the family on Monday. We also met Molly who followed us throughout our tour. After meeting three of the dog partners, we met "Buddha," a big black pig. He "talked" in his sleep when Arnie pet him. It was funny listening to him. We met several goats and sheep, which are free to wander the ranch. Each animal had great names; like "Bambi" who had spots like Bambi, "Lilo" and "Stitch," "Laverne" who has now lost her friend "Shirley," and many others...