New Mexico Organization Sees Increased Need for Service Dogs Post-COVID

The Academy of Canine Excellence in Albuquerque has seen a rise in demand for psychiatric service dogs to help people cope with loneliness after the pandemic.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Academy of Canine Excellence, a non-profit organization in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has seen an increase in the need for service dogs, particularly psychiatric service dogs, since the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization's director, Briaun Prichard, says the pandemic has led to a 'culture of loneliness' as people have become more isolated, and service dogs have helped clients regain their independence and social connections.

Why it matters

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant mental health impact, with many people experiencing increased feelings of loneliness and isolation. Service dogs, particularly those trained to assist with psychiatric needs, have become an important tool for helping people cope with the aftermath of the pandemic and regain their quality of life.

The details

The Academy of Canine Excellence trains a variety of service dogs, including those that specialize in diabetes detection and anxiety response. However, Prichard has noticed a particular increase in demand for psychiatric service dogs since the pandemic ended. These dogs can help clients with improved emotional regulation, fewer and less severe panic or anxiety attacks, increased social interaction, and greater independence in daily living. The organization uses positive reinforcement and psychology-based training to ensure the dogs enjoy their work.

  • The Academy of Canine Excellence opened its doors in 2019, a decade after Prichard started the non-profit Service Dogs of New Mexico.
  • Prichard says the organization has seen a rise in demand for psychiatric service dogs since the COVID-19 pandemic ended.

The players

Briaun Prichard

The director of the Academy of Canine Excellence and the founder of the non-profit Service Dogs of New Mexico.

Falkor

A therapy dog at the Academy of Canine Excellence who will be helping to deliver Valentine's Day cards to senior centers.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We've really built this program around helping civilians and children with disabilities. We do work with veterans too, but for the broad strokes, there was just not a lot available for kids and people out there.”

— Briaun Prichard, Director, Academy of Canine Excellence (KRQE)

“What we kind of found is after COVID ended, there was just this culture of loneliness. You know, people work from home, they order their groceries online, they order their Target online, and everybody's just really disconnected. And so we found that a lot of people just completely stopped going out, and the world never really went back to normal after COVID ended.”

— Briaun Prichard, Director, Academy of Canine Excellence (KRQE)

“Some of our clients come in, and they're just at the end of their rope. They've tried every therapy. They've tried every medication. They've done absolutely everything they possibly can. And they go from giving up hope almost completely to living their life and doing really wonderful things with their dog and having experiences like going on vacations and being out in the world again, becoming part of clubs, getting jobs, education, and really getting back on track.”

— Briaun Prichard, Director, Academy of Canine Excellence (KRQE)

What’s next

Falkor, one of the therapy dogs at the Academy of Canine Excellence, will be helping to deliver Valentine's Day cards to senior centers over the upcoming holiday weekend.

The takeaway

The increased demand for psychiatric service dogs in New Mexico highlights the lasting mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the important role these animals can play in helping people regain their independence, social connections, and overall quality of life.