Our missions
– Ensure continuity of care and the emotional bond for animals when their owner is hospitalized and experiencing financial hardship, by welcoming them into foster families or providing care at the owner’s home.
– Offer safe, reliable, and long-term solutions to people at risk of losing their animal due to life changes combined with financial difficulties.
– Raise awareness of essential guidelines for harmonious cohabitation between humans and animals.
– Provide professional support to social and healthcare workers assisting vulnerable individuals who have companion animals.
Our area of intervention
We operate within the Pau metropolitan area and more broadly throughout the Béarn region, and occasionally in neighbouring departments.
A word from the President and Founder
Animal et Lien Social en Béarn was founded in June 2025 following a dual observation, both professional and personal: the bond between humans and animals is often a true lifeline—especially during times of vulnerability, illness, or isolation.
For more than 25 years, as a speech therapist trained in animal-assisted mediation and holding the ACACED certification, I have supported elderly people, individuals with disabilities, and those experiencing psychological distress. I have seen how an animal can represent a stable emotional presence, a daily reference point, and a source of comfort and motivation. But I have also witnessed how fragile this bond can become when life suddenly changes: hospitalization, loss of autonomy, admission to a care facility, financial hardship…
This reality was also part of my personal experience. I once had to refuse hospitalization due to the lack of a solution to care for my animals, who had become my main emotional anchor at that time. In the midst of inner collapse, they brought me stability, warmth, and vitality, allowing me to approach outpatient medical care with greater peace of mind.
From this life journey emerged a strong conviction: no one should ever have to choose between their health and their animal. This is why I chose to surround myself with trusted people, so that we could act together..
Valérie POLES
Volunteers
Our volunteers are selected based on their skills and reliability. Practical introductory workshops led by professionals are offered according to individual needs and interests.
Partners
In order to be as effective as possible, we work in close collaboration with professionals involved in each situation, including:
Social services
Medical and social care facilities
Healthcare professionals
Emergency services
Canine educators
Pet sitters and boarding facilities
Veterinarians
Local associations