Therapy Dog Program
Paws for Patrick’s Therapy Dog Program brings certified therapy dogs into group settings to support young people through meaningful, calming interactions.
Therapy animals are well-trained and tested companion animals that volunteer with their owners, providing support and companionship to others in the community. At home, they are regular pets and do not provide any formal support to individuals in their households. Therapy animals do not have public access rights. Rather, therapy dog access is by invitation only. While Paws for Patrick only works with dogs, therapy animals can be a variety of different species, including cats, horses, and donkeys.
Our team of therapy dogs and their trained handlers visit schools, Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), and Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) to help reduce anxiety, lift spirits, and encourage open conversation among children and young adults up to age 30 who are navigating mental health challenges.
These visits—simple but powerful—are easily adapted to different settings and leave a lasting positive impact.
Interested in a Visit?
Meet our Therapy Dogs
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Bailey
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Bauer
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Bella
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Benji
Looking to become a Paws for Patrick Therapy Dog Handler?
As the demand for our Therapy Dog services continues to grow, we're looking to expand our team of compassionate and committed volunteers. If you and your dog are ready to make a difference, we invite you to get involved.
Paws for Wellness Corporate Outreach Program
Through our Paws for Wellness Initiative, corporate partners can request therapy dog visits to uplift and de-stress employees, clients, tenants, and more. These visits promote well-being and demonstrate your commitment to mental health. We request tax-deductible donations for corporate visits.
Partner and Handler Resources
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Partner Resources
Here you’ll find our Insurance Proof, Memorandum of Understanding, Photo Release, Waiver Copy, and a detailed Description of our Certification Process, all designed to ensure clarity, consistency, and confidence in every partnership.
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Handler Resources
Password-protected and designed exclusively for our volunteer handlers. Inside, you’ll find quick access to our Newsletter Archive, helpful ATD Links, and ATD Guidelines, all in one place to keep you informed, supported, and connected.
FAQs
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Visits typically last 30 to 60 minutes. Therapy Dogs can work for a maximum of 1 hour at a time. If your facility needs a longer program, multiple handler/dog teams can be scheduled simultaneously or in consecutive hours so all participants have a chance to interact.
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The format varies based on facility type, participant age, and space:
Some schools divide students into groups of 10–12, each group spending 30 minutes with different dogs.
Larger schools may have shorter 15-minute sessions spread over an hour or two.
Some facilities allow participants to stay with one dog for the full hour.
High school visits may occur during lunch or a wellness fair, with students coming and going as their schedule allows.
When scheduling a visit, your facility’s contact person will coordinate with Paws for Patrick staff to ensure the visit is well-organized and impactful.
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It’s common for one or two participants to feel nervous at the start of a visit. Our handlers are trained to support these situations with care. No one is ever forced to interact with a dog, and participants are never made to feel uncomfortable for choosing not to.
We encourage nervous participants to observe from a distance at first. Often, as the visit progresses, they gain confidence and may choose to approach or even pet the dog. Therapy dogs are calm and gentle, do not jump or bark, and frequently lie down quietly, allowing participants to pet or snuggle with them at their own pace.
Visit Duration & Format
Location & Space
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Visit locations depend on participant age and facility layout. Common locations include:
Classrooms
Large open spaces (gyms, cafeterias)
Small settings (multi-purpose)
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We recommend a ratio of 10-15 participants per dog to ensure the experience is enjoyable and safe for everyone.
Therapy Dogs
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Therapy dogs can be of any breed, age (must be at least 1 year old), or size. While you can view our team of dogs here, we do not accommodate requests for specific dogs. Scheduling depends on the handler's availability.
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Depending on participant numbers, time, and available space, 1 to 4 dogs may attend. These details are coordinated with your facility before the visit.