When marriage and family therapist Charleen Meyer met professional dog trainer Shawn Harkins over four years ago, neither imagined their shared love of animals would lead to founding a nonprofit together. But today, through South Bay Animal Connection, they’re doing just that—combining canine companionship with mental health support to bring healing into schools, therapy settings, and workplaces.
Their story began when Charleen was looking for a dog for her family. A mutual friend introduced her to Shawn, who had recently taken in seven surrendered dogs—mostly Pit Bulls and German Shepherds. What started as a simple dog-matching visit turned into a partnership rooted in a shared purpose.
“I brought over this Pit Bull that was surrendered to me. She was just massive,” recalled Shawn. “She looked like a hippo. She was humongous, but she was very sweet.” Despite her gentle nature, they both agreed she wasn’t the right fit. Instead, they decided a Labradoodle would be a better match. Charleen eventually found an Australian Labradoodle puppy named Dakota and reconnected with Shawn to begin training him.
It quickly became clear that Dakota had the ideal temperament to become a therapy dog. That realization inspired the pair to begin outlining a book about the overlap between therapy and dog training. However, after just two planning sessions, they felt compelled to be more hands on in the community. They put the book project on hold and instead founded a nonprofit called South Bay Animal Connection.
From Training to Therapy
Formally incorporated in early 2023, South Bay Animal Connection now brings certified therapy dogs into a variety of settings—from classrooms to corporate offices. The dogs include Australian Labradoodle Dakota, Golden Retriever siblings Laci and Luca, Pit Bull Layla, and Belgian Malinois Halona.
Each program is customized. In schools, sessions might include art and literacy activities designed to build confidence, supported by the presence of the therapy dogs. At Luna Psychotherapy, Charleen’s practice, Dakota acts as a calming presence for children working through anxiety. “Dakota is a happy dog. He cheers everybody up,” said Shawn. “He’s got a little John Travolta beat when he’s walking down the street.”
In business settings, the dogs help create moments of calm and connection. “We bring the dogs, and it lowers stress levels and cortisol levels just by being in the presence of the dogs,” explained Shawn. “We come in and break up the monotony. Who doesn’t smile when you see a dog?”
A Relationship-Based Model
What sets South Bay Animal Connection apart is its emphasis on relationships—between people and their dogs and between individuals and their own emotional lives. Shawn specializes in rehabilitating aggressive or reactive dogs, helping rebuild fractured bonds between pets and their owners. “He gets so many referrals from dog owners who have dogs that are aggressive or reactive,” explained Charleen. “This is why we realized that there's so much crossover in our work, because he can see where the rupture is in the relationship and how it manifests in the dog's behavior. As he supports the humans with how they care for and support and live with their dog, he's able to turn around the aggression. So the dog can just be a happy dog.”
This relationship-based model is what makes their work so effective. After completing formal training in animal-assisted psychotherapy in Colorado, Charleen now incorporates clinical techniques with Dakota during her sessions. “[Dogs] are so effective in the therapy process because they reflect back to us in our interactions with them what is going on within us—what goes on in our relationships.”
Looking Ahead
While their current work focuses on community programs, Charleen and Shawn are looking to expand. Another goal is to offer mobile support services during disaster relief efforts to provide safety and care of the animals. “The Red Cross comes in and does what they can,” explained Shawn. “They offer food and shelter for humans. Dogs can't go to the facility. Dad has to tie them up to a tree and hope that they are there in the morning. Or Dad sleeps in the car with the dog, or the dog's in the car by itself freaking out.” Their vision is to act as a communication and care hub for displaced animals. “We can make sure the dogs are safe, take care of any misplaced dogs that come to us, and we can set up where the fire department is located,” described Shawn. “We'll take care of them. We'll make sure they’re safe.”
At its core, South Bay Animal Connection is about healing—healing for people, for animals, and for the bonds that connect them. “We live in such an amazing community,” said Charleen, a sentiment that captures the spirit behind their mission. Every gentle paw, every wagging tail, is a reminder that even the smallest moments of connection can leave a lasting impact. To learn more about their work or support their growing efforts, visit sbanimalconnection.org.
What started as a simple dog-matching visit turned into a partnership rooted in a shared purpose.
“[Dogs] are so effective in the therapy process because they reflect back to us in our interactions with them what is going on within us—what goes on in our relationships.”