The Center for Human-Animal Interaction

The Center for Human-Animal Interaction The Center for Human-Animal Interaction at VCU School of Medicine is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization housed in the Department of Psychiatry.

Founded in June 2001, our mission is improved health and well being through human-animal interaction. CHAI's research goal is to increase knowledge of the benefits of the human-animal interaction through interdisciplinary research. We are a recognized pioneer in the area of researching health benefits of human-animal interaction with many studies published internationally in scholarly journals. CHAI's clinical goal is to enhance health and well being through animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and pet visitation. Our popular therapy dog program, Dogs On Call (www.facebook.com/dogsoncall), provides visits to patients throughout the VCU Medical Center and our research documents the positive impact of these visits. We also provide pet loss counseling groups for clients of participating veterinary and other facilities. CHAI's educational goal is to improve understanding of the benefits of the human-animal interaction. We provide guest lectures in educational settings, occasional practicum or internships, and are often invited to make presentations to local, national, and international audiences.

Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day. We honor the rich history, diverse cultures, and enduring contributions of Indigenous peo...
10/13/2025

Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day. We honor the rich history, diverse cultures, and enduring contributions of Indigenous peoples. We acknowledge the traditional connections to land, community, and all living beings, including the animals who have shared their journeys through generations.



[Image Alt Text: A graphic for Indigenous Peoples Day. The background is a vibrant purple with orange flowers and butterflies. The text reads "October 9 is INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY" in large, orange and yellow letters.]

It’s Animal Welfare Week! Beyond providing love and care, what’s one simple action you take to ensure the welfare of ani...
10/09/2025

It’s Animal Welfare Week! Beyond providing love and care, what’s one simple action you take to ensure the welfare of animals in your community? From advocating for responsible pet policies to teaching children when and how to interact with animals, every effort counts! Tell us below!



[Image Alt Text: A black and white photo of a person wearing a face mask bending down to pet a small dog. To the right, a large green block contains the text "Animal Welfare Week."]

On Child Health Day, we celebrate the well-being of our youngest community members. Did you know interacting with therap...
10/06/2025

On Child Health Day, we celebrate the well-being of our youngest community members. Did you know interacting with therapy dogs can have incredible benefits for children’s emotional and physical health, reducing anxiety and promoting a sense of calm? Our Dogs on Call teams witness these positive impacts daily!



[Image Alt text: A graphic with a photo of a therapy dog visiting a hospital. A young child in a pink shirt is looking at the camera, while an adult is on the left petting a golden retriever in the foreground. The graphic includes the text "Improve your child's health today" and a large title, "Child Health Day."]

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of the incredible Dr. Jane Goodall, a true pioneer who revolutionized our ...
10/02/2025

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of the incredible Dr. Jane Goodall, a true pioneer who revolutionized our understanding of animals and the human-animal bond (and who's favorite animal was a DOG!). Her groundbreaking work has been a profound inspiration for all of us at the Center for Human-Animal Interaction, and we will honor her legacy by continuing to champion ethical research, conservation, and compassionate interaction. Our thoughts are with Jane's family, the Jane Goodall Institute , and all who were touched by her life's work.



[Alt Text: An image with a blue sky background and white clouds, featuring a memorial for Jane Goodall. Text at the top reads "IN MEMORIAM JANE GOODALL APRIL 3, 1934 – OCTOBER 1, 2025." A white dove flies in the upper right corner. In the center, Jane Goodall is shown sitting with a chimpanzee next to her. She is smiling and wearing a light green shirt and khaki pants. A quote to her left states, "The least I can do is speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves." At the bottom, "Center for Human-Animal Interaction ®" and "chai.vcu.edu" are displayed against a blue band.]

Happy Responsible Dog Ownership Day! This is the perfect lead-in to National Dog Week, which starts tomorrow! Let’s cele...
09/20/2025

Happy Responsible Dog Ownership Day! This is the perfect lead-in to National Dog Week, which starts tomorrow! Let’s celebrate the special bond we share and commit to being the best dog parents we can be. From regular vet visits to consistent training and great nutrition, every action makes a difference. What’s one thing you do as a responsible dog owner?



[Image Alt Text: A graphic for National Dog Week. A black and brown doodle is the featured photo. The graphic includes a large red paw print in the corner and the text "NATIONAL DOG WEEK."]

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came out to Pups on the Plaza today! It was a truly wonderful day filled with our amazi...
09/18/2025

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came out to Pups on the Plaza today! It was a truly wonderful day filled with our amazing Dogs on Call teams, fantastic food, lively music, and the best community. Your support means the world to the Center for Human-Animal Interaction. We hope you had as much fun as we did! Stay tuned for updates on future events!



[Image Alt Text: A thank you poster for a successful "Pups on the Plaza" event. The main text on the right says, "THANK YOU FOR A SUCCESSFUL." The bottom left has the event title, "PUPS ON THE PLAZA." Two Polaroid-style photos show therapy dogs and people: the top shows a woman in a blue shirt with a brown dog on a chair, and the bottom shows a dog on its back receiving a belly rub. A thank you graphic dedicated to Holiday Barn Pet Resorts. The text at the top says "THANKS TO." Below that, the Holiday Barn Pet Resorts logo is featured on a dog bone-shaped background, with cartoon mascots of a cat and a dog on either side. A blurry photo of a person petting a dog is behind the logo. Text at the bottom explains that Holiday Barn covered the first 200 meals to support a research and therapy dog program.]

Halfway through the fun at Pups on the Plaza and it’s been PAW-some! 🐾 So many happy faces (and wagging tails!). There’s...
09/18/2025

Halfway through the fun at Pups on the Plaza and it’s been PAW-some! 🐾 So many happy faces (and wagging tails!). There’s still plenty of time to come down in front of MMEC until 2pm for more Dogs on Call, food, and music. Don’t miss out on the fun!



[Image Alt Text: A "Pups on the Plaza" promotional poster with the headline "HALFWAY THROUGH THE FUN!" The main text and event details are in the center. On the left are two Polaroid-style photos: the top one shows a man and a woman smiling and holding a small dog, and the bottom photo shows a person petting a smiling dalmatian.]

It’s HERE! 🎉 Pups on the Plaza is officially kicking off in just 1 hour! Come join us in front of MMEC (1201 East Marsha...
09/18/2025

It’s HERE! 🎉 Pups on the Plaza is officially kicking off in just 1 hour! Come join us in front of MMEC (1201 East Marshall Street) for a paw-some time with our incredible Dogs on Call teams, food, and great music. The fun starts at 11am! We can’t wait to see you and your furry (or not-so-furry) friends. 🐶🎶🍔



[Image Alt Text: Promotional poster announcing, "IT'S HERE! PUPS ON THE PLAZA." The main text and event details are on the left, including the date, time, and location. On the right, two Polaroid-style photos are stacked. The top photo shows a smiling person with a black dog. The bottom photo shows a golden retriever visiting a person in a hospital bed.]

The moment you’ve all been waiting for is almost here! TOMORROW is “Pups on the Plaza”! Get ready for a day of joy and c...
09/17/2025

The moment you’ve all been waiting for is almost here! TOMORROW is “Pups on the Plaza”! Get ready for a day of joy and community. We can’t wait to share this experience with you. See you there!

🗓️ Thursday, September 18, 2025
⏰ 11am-2pm
📍 In front of MMEC, 1201 East Marshall Street



[Image Alt Text: A "Pups on the Plaza" promotional poster. The main text says "Only 1 Day!" with event details including the date and location. Two Polaroid-style photos show therapy dogs interacting with people. The top photo shows a dog looking up at a person in a medical coat. The bottom photo shows a child in a "I'm a Huge Fan" shirt petting a golden retriever.]

Just 2 more days until “Pups on the Plaza”! We’ve got a fantastic event planned for you, featuring food, music, and of c...
09/16/2025

Just 2 more days until “Pups on the Plaza”! We’ve got a fantastic event planned for you, featuring food, music, and of course, our amazing Dogs on Call teams. Get ready for some good vibes and furry friends!



[Image Alt Text: A promotional poster for "Pups on the Plaza." The top of the image says "Only 2 Days!" and has event details. To the right are two photos. The top photo shows a smiling person in a chair with a dog on their lap, while the bottom one shows a person and a child petting a golden retriever. The bottom of the poster notes that lunch tickets are provided by Holiday Barn Pet Resorts.]

This National Veterinary Technician Week, we send a huge thank you to the incredible vet techs who care for our beloved ...
09/16/2025

This National Veterinary Technician Week, we send a huge thank you to the incredible vet techs who care for our beloved pets! Their expertise and compassion are vital.



[Image Alt Text: A graphic for National Vet Tech Week. The image shows a smiling veterinary technician on the right, with three different dogs gathered around her. The text "National VET TECH Week" is in the top right corner.]

Only 3 days until “Pups on the Plaza”! We’re getting the music ready and our Dogs on Call teams are practicing their bes...
09/15/2025

Only 3 days until “Pups on the Plaza”! We’re getting the music ready and our Dogs on Call teams are practicing their best “hello!” We can’t wait to see everyone for this special day. Mark your calendars.

🗓️ Thursday, September 18, 2025
⏰ 11am-2pm
📍 In front of MMEC, 1201 East Marshall Street



[Image Alt Text: A promotional poster for "Pups on the Plaza." Two Polaroid-style photos show therapy dogs, one with a smiling golden retriever and another with a spotted dog wearing a bandana. The main text announces "Only 3 Days!" and provides the event's date and location. A line at the bottom mentions that the first 200 lunch tickets are from Holiday Barn Pet Resorts.]

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1200 E Broad Street
Richmond, VA
23298

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Our Story

The Center for Human-Animal Interaction (CHAI) was established in the School of Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University in June of 2001, and was the first Center of its kind in the nation to be established in a School of Medicine. CHAI accomplishes its mission through several core programs and offered services.

CHAI's research goal is to increase knowledge of the benefits of the human-animal interaction through interdisciplinary research. We are a recognized pioneer in the area of researching health benefits of human-animal interaction with many studies published internationally in scholarly journals. CHAI's clinical goal is to enhance health and well being through animal-assisted interventions (AAI). Our therapy dog program, Dogs On Call (www.facebook.com/dogsoncall), provides visits to patients, their families and staff throughout the VCU Medical Center and other VCU Health facilities. Our research documents the positive impact of these visits with 99% of patients finding the visits helpful. CHAI's educational goal is to improve understanding of the benefits of the human-animal interaction. We provide guest lectures in educational settings, occasional practicum or internships, and are often invited to make presentations to local, national, and international audiences.