Human - Canine Bond

The CBF is acutely aware of the important role canines play in a human’s life and health. Research has concluded that tangible, mutual benefits exist when dogs are present in people’s lives. Studies have proven the positive impact of human-canine interactions on individual and community health.

For example, pet ownership lowers blood pressure in response to mental stress[1], pet owners have higher “survival rates” after heart attacks[2], and ownership of pets - particularly dogs - may reduce cardio-vascular risk[3].

Furthermore, one study has shown that pet ownership contributes to a decreased frequency of doctor visits[4], thereby resulting in huge savings on public health expenditures.

Pet dogs are extremely beneficial to their owners and are valuable companions to children, the elderly, veterans, and those living alone, or suffering in any way. For many alone or at-risk individuals, their pet dog is the only reason to go on living.

Keeping dogs out of shelters not only saves the life of the dog, but also brings huge relief to the owners who can keep their beloved companion and continue to receive the great benefits of that bond. These bonds between humans and their lifelong pet dogs are enhanced and strengthened through both Jazzy’s Place and the CRiSP program.

Unfortunately, this close human-canine bond does not carry over to humans living and interacting among themselves. Today, an environment of turmoil, fraud and abuse exists that require many humanitarian relief organizations to substantially increase their due diligence in identifying, selecting and helping those truly in need.

As a result, the CBF finds it necessary to choose the difficult path that requires a significantly greater emphasis on a thorough vetting process in the entire hierarchical chain for both its charitable programs.

HEADQUARTERS

MANAGEMENT

​The Caplan-Bensley Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2007 by David Reid Caplan and Maria Bensley Caplan that believes at-risk people and their vulnerable pets are all members of a family that deserve a safe and comfortable place in the world.

Our overall mission is to promote and support a society where every resource and every life, both human and canine, is valued and preserved.

The comprehensive purpose of the CBF is to help build and maintain the bond between individuals and families with their pet dogs. This mutually beneficial relationship is kept intact and flourishes when pet dogs can remain engaged in a home environment and avoid being placed in an animal shelter or abandoned.

The CBF supports two complimentary charitable programs to meet this goal: Jazzy’s Place and Canine Residences in Supporting People (CRiSP).

Jazzy’s Place was established in 2013 to help families in need nourish their beloved pet-dogs at home. Through a network of fully vetted food banks and pantries, this initiative provides free dog food to individuals and families in need who are facing difficult times.

No family or individual should ever choose between feeding themselves or their dog or having to abandon their pet dog because of the inability to obtain dog food. Providing families in need with proper nourishment for themselves and their pet dogs is the basic requirement for humans bonding with their pets.

Equally important to fulfill this human-pet bond is the need to support individuals and families who are encountering other difficulties and are unable to keep their dog at home.

While Jazzy’s Place provides nourishment to households in need, CRiSP will provide emotional and physical support for individuals and families who are handicapped, incapacitated or incapable of maintaining a safe home for their pet dog.

The CRiSP initiative will provide a rehoming program through a thoroughly vetted network of dedicated voluntary Residence Providers assembled and supported by the CBF. This program will also provide community service to patients in hospitals, veterans facilities, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers or in assisted living facilities.

Jazzy’s Place and CRiSP permit dog owners to continue maintaining a close bond at home, rather than the pet-dog being separated and living in an animal shelter. These programs preserve the close bond between owners and their beloved pet dogs during both their entire lives.

Both programs will be funded and administered by the Caplan-Bensley Foundation. At certain times the CBF will look for financial participation, support and guidance from owners.  Any additional financial assistance received from CRiSP beneficiaries will be totally voluntary and from dog-owners who are financially able to contribute.

Because of these more fortunate contributors, others with more limited financial resources and who would otherwise be limited or deprived of these charitable services will be able to benefit.

Contributing owners can take total comfort in knowing that 100% of their donations, with no related fundraising costs, will be devoted to enhancing the charitable benefits of this program.

This 100% policy ensures all donor contributions, grants and beneficiary donations are used entirely for the charitable benefit of the CRiSP program, rather than for fundraising expenses.
All fundraising and related costs will be covered by David and Maria Caplan.

CRiSP serves a significant dual-purpose by accommodating the interests of the dog owners while at the same time providing a valuable community and charitable service.

Both the Jazzy’s Place and CRiSP programs concurrently provide owners and their loving pet-dogs with a well-fed, secure and full life at home rather than abandoning them to a shelter. Together these programs fulfill the CBF’s strategic mission of “Saving Both Ends of the Leash”.

In 2025 an Executive Director with proven experience managing a humanitarian relief and animal welfare organization will be recruited. This individual will be totally responsible for initiating, promoting, developing and growing the new CRiSP initiative, as well as managing the existing Jazzy’s Place grant program.

The Executive Director will manage the process for identifying, selecting and vetting qualified

Regional Directors that ensure the highest quality standards and full compliance are maintained. This also includes overseeing and interfacing with estate attorneys, financial planners whose clients could also be potential dog-owner contributors.

Administrative and operational costs of the CRiSP program will be funded by the CBF, including compensation to the Regional Directors, out of pocket costs to Residence Providers and costs associated with training of emotional support and comfort dogs. All fundraising expenses will be borne by David R. and Maria B. Caplan and therefore 100% of donor contributions will be for the sole benefit of the CRiSP program.

The Caplan-Bensley Foundation​

​The Caplan-Bensley Foundation (CBF) administrative headquarters is located in Palm Beach, FL.

Millbrook Estate operational headquarters located in Millbrook, NY is configured for fundraising and entertainment purposes, and can be functionally used as an executive retreat or conference center.

The initial pilot program for CRiSP will be in Dutchess County and subsequently expanded to surrounding counties in New York State, and eventually the entire United States. 

The upscale appearance projects a favorable impression and serves to illustrate the high standards expected from all parties. It is available for marketing purposes and meetings with potential dog-owner clients, estate attorneys, financial planners and providers for the CBF.

The property is on manicured parklike 14 acres with a large 4-bedroom Main house, an adjacent Annex building with cabana and pool-house.  Both the interior and the grounds can be used to host special and fundraising events.

[1] Allen, K., Shykoff, B. E., & Joseph L. Izzo, J. (2001). Pet ownership, but not ACE inhibitor therapy, blunts home blood pressure responses to mental stress. Hypertension, 38, 815-820.

[2] Friedmann, E., Katcher, A. H., Lynch, J. J., & Thomas, S. A. (1980). Canine companions and one-year survival of patients after discharge from a coronary care unit. Public Health Reports, 95(4), 307-312.

[3] Levine, G.N.; Allen, K.; Braun, L.T.; Christian, H.E.; Friedmann, E.;Taubert, K.A.; Thomas, S.A.; Wells, D.L.; Lange, R.A. Pet ownership and cardiovascular risk: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation 2013, 127, 2353–2363.

[4] Heady, B.; Grabka, M.; Kelley, J.; Reddy, P.; Tseng, Y.-P. Pet ownership is good for your health and saves public expenditures. Australian; German longitudinal evidence. Aust. Soc. Monit. 2002, 5, 93–99.Type your paragraph here.

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