Archive · 27 Oct 2025
Chinese Man's Therapy Dogs Help Children with Autism and Depression
Wu Chi, who had mild autism as a child, realized how helpful dogs can be for people.
He started an organization to train dogs to help people with autism and depression.
His group, Paw for Heal, trains dogs and their owners to become therapy teams.
These teams then visit people to offer comfort and support.
Wu's work is becoming increasingly popular in China, and he hopes to expand the reach of therapy dogs.
He aims to sustain his work through training programs.
Wu Chi, a former computer science graduate, founded Paw for Heal, a therapy dog organization.
Wu's organization has trained over 5,000 pets, with 400 certified as therapy dogs.
Paw for Heal provides services to individuals with autism, depression, and other conditions.
Wu's work was inspired by his childhood experiences and a pivotal moment involving a child with autism.
The organization offers paid training programs to sustain its free services.
- Who
- Wu Chi, a former computer science graduate.
- What
- Founded an organization, Paw for Heal, that trains therapy dogs to help people with autism, depression, and other challenges.
- When
- Wu began the therapy dog program after an inspiring experience in 2012.
- Where
- China, primarily Shanghai.
- Why
- To promote the social value of therapy animals, inspired by his own childhood experience with autism and communication with a dog.
- Organization Name
- Paw for Heal
- Number of Pets Trained
- More than 5,000
- Certified Therapy Dogs
- 400
- People Served
- More than 150,000
- Primary Focus
- Autism and Depression