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.

Want to see your name (or company logo) above the lanes? ๐ŸŒŸ We have sponsorship opportunities available for the 2026 Tour...
01/16/2026

Want to see your name (or company logo) above the lanes? ๐ŸŒŸ We have sponsorship opportunities available for the 2026 Tournament! Your sponsorship directly supports the Austin Germani Memorial Fund, benefiting VCU's Center for Human-Animal Interaction and Boys to Men Mentoring.

Learn more here: https://www.austingermanimemorialfund.com/

01/16/2026
Grab your friends, pick a team name, and lace up those shoes! ๐ŸŽณ We are looking for teams to join us at River City Roll o...
01/15/2026

Grab your friends, pick a team name, and lace up those shoes! ๐ŸŽณ We are looking for teams to join us at River City Roll on Jan 29th. Whether you throw strikes or gutter balls, itโ€™s all about the fun (and the dogs!). Weโ€™re raising awareness for a great cause!

Learn more here: https://www.austingermanimemorialfund.com/

We are so excited for the upcoming Austin Germani Memorial Fund Strike Out Stress Bowling Tournament! This incredible ev...
01/15/2026

We are so excited for the upcoming Austin Germani Memorial Fund Strike Out Stress Bowling Tournament! This incredible event honors Austinโ€™s legacy by raising awareness for mental well-being and supporting the animals that bring us so much comfort.

Proceeds from the tournament benefit VCUโ€™s Center for Human-Animal Interaction (CHAI) and the Dogs on Call program.

๐Ÿ“… When: January 29, 2026 | 3pm โ€“ 7pm ๐Ÿ“ Where: River City Roll, Richmond, VA ๐ŸŽ‰ Featuring: DJ, Raffle, Food, and Drinks!

Learn more here: https://www.austingermanimemorialfund.com/

Happy New Year from CHAI and Dogs on Call! May 2026 bring you health, happiness, and plenty of wagging tails. Weโ€™re exci...
01/01/2026

Happy New Year from CHAI and Dogs on Call! May 2026 bring you health, happiness, and plenty of wagging tails. Weโ€™re excited for another year of promoting the human-animal bond and making a positive impact. What are your resolutions for a paws-itive year?



[Image Alt Text: A graphic for a New Year's celebration. Large, bold letters say "HAPPY NEW YEAR" in blue, with "2026" in white at the bottom. Fireworks are shown in the dark background.]

As 2025 draws to a close, we reflect on all the amazing moments our Dogs on Call teams created, the research insights we...
01/01/2026

As 2025 draws to a close, we reflect on all the amazing moments our Dogs on Call teams created, the research insights we gained, and the bonds we strengthened. Thank you for being part of our journey! Wishing you a safe and happy New Yearโ€™s Eve. See you in 2026!



[Image Alt Text: A graphic for New Year's Eve. A large, ornate clock is in the bottom half of the image, with a midnight blue background and fireworks-like sparks and streaming ribbons. The text says "NEW YEAR'S Eve" and "REMEMBER TO PREP FOR FIREWORKS AND PROTECT YOUR DOG."]

Wishing everyone a very Happy Holidays from the Center for Human-Animal Interaction and our beloved Dogs on Call therapy...
12/24/2025

Wishing everyone a very Happy Holidays from the Center for Human-Animal Interaction and our beloved Dogs on Call therapy dogs! May your season be filled with warmth, joy, and cherished moments with loved ones (both two-legged and four-legged!).



[Image Alt Text: A holiday graphic. The words "HAPPY HOWL-IDAYS" are in large white letters against a dark, blurry background of holiday lights and starbursts. A corgi with a blue therapy dog vest and bells on its collar is in the foreground.]

"Mic check, one two! ๐ŸŽค๐Ÿพ Thank you Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU for inviting us to Radiothon, and to Mix981Rich...
12/11/2025

"Mic check, one two! ๐ŸŽค๐Ÿพ Thank you Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU for inviting us to Radiothon, and to Mix981Richmond for putting our Dogs on Call program in the spotlight! We loved talking about the power of puppy love.

"

[Alt Text: A group photo showing four smiling people and a small, white fluffy therapy dog standing in front of a Mix 98.1 banner. A man in a blue hoodie holds the dog in the center. Overlaid graphics include a large microphone illustration on the left, the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU logo at the top, and text that reads "RADIOTHON" and "THANKS FOR INVITING US!"]

On International Animal Rights Day, we affirm our commitment to promoting respectful and ethical treatment for all anima...
12/09/2025

On International Animal Rights Day, we affirm our commitment to promoting respectful and ethical treatment for all animals. At CHAI, we love our Dogs on Call dogs but we support and promote the well-being of all animals.



[Image Alt Text: A graphic for International Animal Rights Day. A large, side-profile photo of an Irish Setter therapy dog sitting and looking up is on the right. The text on the left says "International Animal Rights Day" and "9 December."]

Click the link below to attend an information session TONIGHT at 7:00pm!๐Ÿพ Calling all dog lovers! ๐ŸพHave you ever wondere...
12/04/2025

Click the link below to attend an information session TONIGHT at 7:00pm!

๐Ÿพ Calling all dog lovers! ๐Ÿพ

Have you ever wondered what it takes to become part of Dogs on Call, our therapy dog volunteer program at VCU Health? Join us LIVE on YouTube this evening at 7:00 PM for an info session and Q&A!

๐Ÿ“บ Livestream Link:
๐Ÿ‘‰ https://youtube.com/live/9NOwQCCYO00?feature=share
Learn how you and your dog can make a difference by bringing comfort and smiles to patients, staff, and students. Donโ€™t miss this chance to get your questions answered and find out how to join our amazing team!

๐Ÿถ More info about Dogs on Call:
https://chai.vcu.edu/dogs-on-call/joining-dogs-on-call/

๐Ÿ“ž Contact us:
Center for Human-Animal Interaction
Phone: 804-827-PAWS (7297)
Email: chai@vcuhealth.org

Tonight is the Night! ๐Ÿพ Calling all dog lovers! ๐ŸพHave you ever wondered what it takes to become part of Dogs on Call, ou...
12/04/2025

Tonight is the Night! ๐Ÿพ Calling all dog lovers! ๐Ÿพ

Have you ever wondered what it takes to become part of Dogs on Call, our therapy dog volunteer program at VCU Health? Join us LIVE on YouTube this evening at 7:00 PM for an info session and Q&A!

๐Ÿ“บ Livestream Link:
๐Ÿ‘‰ https://youtube.com/live/9NOwQCCYO00?feature=share
Learn how you and your dog can make a difference by bringing comfort and smiles to patients, staff, and students. Donโ€™t miss this chance to get your questions answered and find out how to join our amazing team!

๐Ÿถ More info about Dogs on Call:
https://chai.vcu.edu/dogs-on-call/joining-dogs-on-call/

๐Ÿ“ž Contact us:
Center for Human-Animal Interaction
Phone: 804-827-PAWS (7297)
Email: chai@vcuhealth.org

๐Ÿพ Calling all dog lovers! ๐Ÿพ 24 Hours Away! Have you ever wondered what it takes to become part of Dogs on Call, our ther...
12/04/2025

๐Ÿพ Calling all dog lovers! ๐Ÿพ 24 Hours Away!

Have you ever wondered what it takes to become part of Dogs on Call, our therapy dog volunteer program at VCU Health? Join us LIVE on YouTube tomorrow, December 4 at 7:00 PM for an info session and Q&A!

๐Ÿ“บ Livestream Link:
๐Ÿ‘‰ https://youtube.com/live/9NOwQCCYO00?feature=share
Learn how you and your dog can make a difference by bringing comfort and smiles to patients, staff, and students. Donโ€™t miss this chance to get your questions answered and find out how to join our amazing team!

๐Ÿถ More info about Dogs on Call:
https://chai.vcu.edu/dogs-on-call/joining-dogs-on-call/

๐Ÿ“ž Contact us:
Center for Human-Animal Interaction
Phone: 804-827-PAWS (7297)
Email: chai@vcuhealth.org

Address

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.