The JAYC Foundation: Just Ask Yourself to Care
Inspired by the equine-facilitated therapy she and her family received after her abduction, Jaycee Dugard vowed to provide other families in crisis the same access to healing. The result: the JAYC Foundation; JAYC is shorthand for “Just ask yourself to care.” Why do you think animals have such healing power? What I lacked for human companionship in the backyard prison the Garridos created, the cats made up for. From my first kitty, Rusty, to my big Doberman, Sheena, animals have taught me compassion and empathy and always made me feel loved, no matter what. Eight years ago, my friends and family surprised me with a palomino Haflinger I call Cowboy. I have learned so much from him on and off the ground: patience, humor, staying present—attunement to each other. He’s a clown and a teacher. I don’t think I would be as healthy as I am today without him in my life. What’s your message to others enduring devastating trauma? Trauma can shape you in many ways. One thing I know for sure, you have to face your fears to move beyond the pain. Finding a therapy program right for you is essential to moving forward. There are so many forms out there; for me, horse therapy resonated. The thing to remember is you can heal and you don’t have to live with the nightmares forever. Find something you love and find a therapist or friend who will do it with you.
Why does the foundation do workshops for law enforcement? We created the law enforcement officer [LEO] workshops to help officers learn from the mistakes made in my case. Through working with horse partners, they learn new ways of listening and collaborating. When they come together and remember who they do this work for, they feel a renewed sense of their job and are much happier.
Why did you choose a pine cone for your logo? A pine cone was the last thing I touched before my kidnapper, Phillip Garrido, threw me in the back seat of his car, where his wife, Nancy, was waiting to hold me down. I didn’t know it at the time, but my subconscious held on to that pine cone for the whole duration of my captivity. Now it represents new beginnings.