Kaitlin Crotty is a Licensed Social Worker and Certified Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialist. She earned her Master’s in Social Work from Capella University and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Cognitive Neuroscience from Temple University.
While managing the clinical services team at a homeless shelter in North Philadelphia, Kaitlin saw how difficult it was for families and survivors of domestic violence to leave their pets behind when entering the shelter. That experience inspired her to create a small but meaningful program centered around a guinea pig named Jane. The goal was simple: bring a sense of comfort into the therapy space. The result was significant: therapy engagement increased by 58% in its first year. Kaitlin attributes the program’s success to the power of the human / animal bond.