When Alvin (not his real name) first met the friend he holds so close to him in this photograph, he'd been given up for lost by most of society.

A victim of sexual abuse, domestic violence and alcoholism, Alvin bunked school jost days. Scantily clad, even in freezing weather, he often preferred to spend his time on the school roof. Social workers and counselors specializing in child abuse cases, were at a loss as to how to reach Alvin, literally and figuratively.

Then, Phil Rogers, a social worker with CAFDA (Cape Flats Development Association), had an idea.

'I had attended a lecture in Cape Town by Phil Arkow, the world-renowned expert on the link between animal cruelty and human violence,' she said. 'Alvin was a rough, tough little boy who'd been involved with some really cruel activities with kittens. After listening to Phil Arkow, I decided to see if pet therapy would help him. I contacted Cicely Blumberg who had co-founded DARG (Domestic Animal Rescue Group) and together with Alvin, I met her at the DARG kennels in Hout Bay.'

Cicely takes up the story: 'I gave Alvin a puppy with mange and said to him: "Alvin, you are going to get this puppy right." Phil Rogers brought him to our kennels once a week. We showed him how to bathe the puppy gently without getting soap in his eyes and ears. We showed him how to feed the puppy and taught him the rudiments of training. We took the two of them - Alvin and the puppy - to the beach so that they could roll in the sand and play in the dunes together.
 
'Finally, the puppy's hair grew back and we found a home for him. I'll never forget Alvin's response when I said to him: "Alvin, you did this. You gave this dog back his life." The smile of joy and pride that he gave me is etched in my memory forever.'

Phil Rogers said that through pet therapy, Alvin learnt how to care, something he had never been taught and almost certainly, had never experienced himself. In the months that followed, he returned to school and was no longer disruptive. 
 
'Sadly,' said Phil, 'we were unable to follow through with pet therapy for Alvin and he returned to the streets. Learning to care for all forms of life is not a quick fix therapy. It is an on-going learning process to which all children should be exposed.'

NOTE: The Humane Education Trust has sponsored a lecture tour of South Africa by Phil Arkow twice since 2000. An acknowledged world expert on the link between animal cruelty and human violence, Arkow is co-author of the definitive resource book "Child Abuse, Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse: Linking the Circles of Compassion for Prevention and Intervention." (published by Purdue Press).