Paws For Healing
raised from 65
donations

How We Impact the Community
Our mission is to train and provide canine-assisted therapy (C.A.T.) teams to enhance the quality of life for people in our community.
We have 100 teams of tail-wagging dogs and their handlers to visit Napa’s hospitals, mental health facilities, special education classes, adult day care centers, cancer units, hospice and cancer support groups, rehabilitation units, and assisted living and senior care residences.
Our Paws For Reading teams visit public libraries and school settings where students read to dogs without adult correction (unless solicited). Recently, our fluffy caregivers were recruited to help calm children with ‘shot anxiety’ at pediatric Covid vaccination sites.
PFH training ensures all teams have the skills and temperament needed for their mission to comfort all they contact.
The dogs’ visits are loved by both patients and staff, providing wordless affection and fur therapy. A wagging tail, a furry face, lots of love....that’s how we impact our community!
Other Ways to Help
Volunteer opportunities:
- New volunteer teams--one friendly, healthy canine and one willing volunteer are a team
- Help at four training sessions per year--greet people, pretend to be a patient for evaluations, help with uniform sales
- Help with social media: Facebook , Instagram, Twitter
- Virtual office support: Phone calls, emails, website updates
- Help with "Santa Paws" picture event--reception, pictures
- Assist with new site development, such as student outreach
Donations needed:
- Books for student readers to keep
- Small gift cards (Starbucks, etc) for volunteer 'thank you'
- Gas cards for volunteers
- Desperately need a regular training facility!