What an incredible year 2024 has been for Millie and me! We volunteered over 25 hours and made 20 visits through Paws for Therapy HTX. For those who may not know, we've been volunteering for over a year now, bringing comfort and joy to a variety of places. Our visits have included local libraries, nursing homes, and special events at various locations.

Paws for Therapy HTX is a non-profit group of volunteers in the Houston area who enjoy sharing therapy dogs with those in need of comfort and love. The organization goes to different types of facilities ranging from hospitals, nursing homes to libraries.

Each month, we made regular visits to the Spring Branch Memorial Library, West University Library, and The Tradition nursing home, where we saw firsthand the positive impact of therapy animals on memory care and assisted living residents.

Kids’ reading to therapy dogs help build confidence and reduce anxiety around reading. Millie and other therapy dogs provide a nonjudgemental, calming and loving presence, making kids feel more comfortable and less afraid of making reading mistakes. This encourages them to practice reading aloud, improving their literacy skills while associating reading with positive emotions.

Some of our most rewarding visits were at Rice University, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the Houston Ballet, where Millie’s gentle giant presence provided comfort and joy to those in need. Therapy dogs like Millie offer significant benefits, including reducing stress, alleviating anxiety and loneliness, and even promoting emotional healing in nursing home settings. These visits highlight just how much a simple moment of connection can brighten someone’s day and improve their mental and emotional health.

We got into therapy dog work after observing and understanding Millie’s demeanor and temperament. She has a loving and caring nature that connects with people of all ages, from babies and toddlers to adults and seniors. In 2022, we decided to get her the necessary certifications to become a therapy dog. It wasn’t until a year later that I signed us up with a local group in Houston, and the rest is history. We want to spread love, joy, and comfort those who need it.

We look forward to another year of spreading joy and making a difference!

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