Baja California Expands Therapy Dog Program for Children
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The Baja California government is expanding a psychological support program that uses trained therapy dogs to assist children and adolescents who have experienced violence, adding a new canine therapy team at the Center for Justice for Women (CEJUM) in Mexicali.
The program is part of the state’s efforts to provide comprehensive support for children and adolescents who are victims of violence through specialized psychological care, recreational spaces and the participation of trained dogs that help create safer and more supportive environments during legal and recovery processes.
Baja California Gov. Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda said the canine-assisted therapy model was first implemented at CEJUM Tijuana and later expanded to additional municipalities after officials observed positive results. The program is designed to provide more personalized assistance focused on the best interests of children and adolescents involved in cases related to violence.
According to state officials, from August 2023 through June 2026, the program provided services to 1,103 children and adolescents. The initiative included 839 assisted therapy sessions, 51 accompaniments to prosecutors’ offices and courts, as well as thousands of hours of support in specialized recreational areas intended to help victims feel secure and develop emotional coping tools.
CEJUM Director Magdalena Bautista said the program recently began operating in San Quintín, where 110 children and adolescents have received support through 109 assisted therapy sessions, 17 legal accompaniments and more than 1,680 hours in recreational spaces designed to promote emotional recovery.
The therapy spaces are intended to help children process difficult experiences while receiving support from mental health professionals and trained animals. The approach combines traditional psychological services with activities that encourage trust, communication, and emotional stability.
The state government announced that a new canine therapy team will begin working at CEJUM Mexicali this month. The team consists of psychologist Citlali Robles López and Vera, a trained therapy dog. Officials said the addition will increase the program’s capacity to provide support to children and adolescents who are victims of crimes involving gender-based violence.
The current canine therapy team at CEJUM Tijuana includes psychologist María José Valenzuela Sosa and Toña, a 6-year-old German shepherd. In San Quintín, the program includes psychologist María Guadalupe Macías Gómez and Dora, a 3-year-old, 9-month-old Labrador retriever.
