Mission: The mission of Therapy Animal Coalition, Inc. is to help grow the number of therapy animal teams volunteering in therapeutic, educational, and other special environments. To accomplish this, we will:
Educate the public on how to become a therapy animal team
Facilitate volunteer opportunities for registered teams
Assist facilities and organizations to start therapy animal programs
Results: We have hosted a successful Therapy Animal Expo, reaching 250 people and expanding the reach of pet therapy in our area. Our Speaker Series kicked off with an event titled "How to SPEAK DOG" with 120 in attendance. We have placed dozens of therapy animal teams into new volunteer opportunities and have helped several local organizations start new therapy animal programs.
Target demographics: Patients in medical facilities, students in schools, elderly in nursing homes and care centers, anyone involved in the justice system, those with special needs, veterans, anyone in hospice care.
Direct beneficiaries per year: a very large number of the local community through every therapy animal team that works with us.
Geographic areas served: Duval, St. John's, Nassau, Clay, and Putnam Counties.
Programs: Educating the public on how to become a therapy animal team
Facilitating volunteer opportunities for registered teams
Assisting facilities and organizations to start therapy animal programs
I am the activities assistant at the Palms of Ponte Vedra in memory care and assisted living. Every week two of your volunteers, Michele Leahy bringing in Latee' and Ellen Simons bringing in Stella and Stanley, have enriched the lives of our residents and myself! Their friendship goes beyond just bringing in the dogs once per week. We have actually had birthday parties and holiday celebrations together. We have enjoyed discussing news, weather, politics and fashion because sometimes we were talking " through" the dogs voice. We needed their opinions, too! Latee' even dresses up for us each week in her jerseys or special party dresses. Stella has dressed up for St.Patrick's Day in her green hat and vest! Thank you for the individualized attention you bring each resident by allowing them to greet each and have a little alone time for everyone, We want to thank you for this special day of love you bring to us! Janice Reaves
This organization is instrumental in supporting my chiweenie and I as a pet therapy team. We access the organization for critical information to enhance best practices in our therapy work. Results are palpable....as a team we are better equipped to provide joy and smiles to those we visit in medical facilities!
What a wonderful group ! Although I have been involved with Pet Therapy since 2008, Therapy Animal Coalition has been very helpful, not only sharing information , but also sponsoring workshops and the annual Pet Therapy Expo.
