Pets Healing Hearts
Alliance of Therapy Pets is devoted to training and supporting therapy pets that bring comfort, encouragement, and connection to people in need.
What We Do
Pet therapy uses the human-animal bond to support emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Certified therapy animals and their handlers provide comfort and connection in settings where people need it most.
Therapy visits can help reduce stress, brighten someone’s day, and create meaningful moments of connection. Sometimes, the simplest connection makes the biggest difference.
Recent Visits
Our therapy teams are actively visiting schools, businesses, and community spaces, bringing comfort, connection, and smiles wherever they go.
St Patricks's Day Parade
We loved being part of the St. Patrick’s Day parade! Our teams connected with the community and handed out dog biscuits along the route, making it a fun day for everyone involved.
Academy Community Walkabout
Our Walkabout at Academy in Springfield gave teams and teams-in-training a chance to practice important real-world skills in a supportive environment. From polite greetings to loose-leash walking and staying calm around distractions, these experiences help prepare teams for successful therapy visits.
Become a Member
Interested in becoming part of Alliance of Therapy Pets? Keep an eye on upcoming orientation and testing opportunities.
Upcoming Testing Dates
- Sunday, April 19, 2026 - Beginning at 1pm
- Sunday, October 18, 2026 - Beginning at 1pm
Be Paw-some
Upcoming Walkabout
Join us for a walkabout and practice real-world therapy skills in a supportive environment.
- Date: Friday, March 27th
- Time: 7:00 PM
- Location: Lowe’s South (S. Glenstone)
Walkabouts give teams and teams-in-training the chance to practice polite greetings, loose-leash walking, and staying calm around distractions.
Learn About Becoming a TeamCharacteristics of a Therapy Pet
A successful therapy pet should be:
- Sociable and friendly
- Well-mannered in interactions with others
- Comfortable in crowds and around distractions
- Controllable and reliable
- Comfortable being touched, even unexpectedly
- Able to ignore food or toys when directed
- Not aggressive toward people or other animals