Therapy Dogs of America, a national nonprofit leader in certified therapy dog programs, is expanding to the East Coast with a new chapter based in White Plains, New York.

Your donation will help fund the initial start-up costs of this expansion! Thank you for being a founding supporter of Therapy Dogs of America - East Coast.

Therapy Dogs of America’s East Coast programs will include a range of services benefitting all ages. Our youth education programs include ARF! (Animals + Reading = Fun!) and Wag Well, which teaches mindfulness and stress-reducing skills to kindergarten through high school age students. ARF! is a literacy program that supports children struggling to read and provides them a safe and non-judgmental space to read aloud to trained therapy dogs. Along with these youth programs, Therapy Dogs of America provides uplifting visits to the community in a variety of settings and circumstances.

“Our goal is to bring the healing power of dogs to those who need it most,” says Heidi Lobel, Director of Therapy Dogs of America’s East Coast chapter. “Whether it's providing emotional support in hospitals or helping children improve their reading skills, therapy dogs offer a unique and compassionate form of therapy that makes a real difference in people’s lives.”

The newly launched chapter will initially offer ARF! and Therapy Dog visits to schools, libraries, senior care facilities, hospitals, and businesses in the tri-state area. The Wag Well Mindfulness program is slated to launch in schools in Fall 2025.

“By launching our new East Coast chapter, we’re not just growing, we’re building a powerful, united network of volunteers, donors, and community partners who share our passion for spreading love, joy, and hope to people of all ages,” said Carey Bradshaw, Executive Director of Therapy Dogs of America. “As Heidi Lobel knows through years of volunteering and work with her dog Penny, the bond between a therapy dog and a person is truly powerful.”

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ORGANIZATION:

Since its founding in 1997, Therapy Dogs of Santa Barbara has been dedicated to providing uplifting therapy dog visits to schools, senior care facilities and community organizations. This national expansion marks a significant milestone in Therapy Dogs of Santa Barbara’s journey to bring meaningful change to even more individuals and communities.

With the opening of a new chapter on the East Coast serving New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and eventually Massachusetts, and expanding our California presence to include Ventura County, Therapy Dogs of America is poised to make a greater impact and serve more communities across the country.

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Therapy Dogs of America, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, seeks to empower people to live more fulfilling lives through the human-animal bond. Our services include literacy development through the ARF! (Animals + Reading = Fun!) reading program, wellness and mental health education through our Wag Well program and enriching the lives of children and adults through school visits and other community outreach.

All donations are 100% tax deductible - EIN 47-0879588

To learn more about our organization, visit our website and follow us on social media:

Instagram @therapydogsofamerica
@therapydogsamericaeast

Facebook @TherapyDogsofSantaBarbara

Therapy Dogs of America East Coast Expansion

Become a founding donor of this exciting new chapter!