When words and medicine fall short, a wagging tail or a gentle purr can work wonders. For over 30 years, Happy Tails Pet Therapy has been bringing moments of joy, comfort, and healing to those who need it most.
Founded in 1991 by a local veterinarian, Happy Tails began with her visits to a nursing home, where she saw the positive impact her dog had on residents. What started as a simple act of kindness grew as friends joined her, eventually becoming a full-fledged pet therapy organization. Today, Happy Tails has 240 dedicated members who visit over 200 facilities, including hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, mental health facilities, businesses, and schools.
“We offer three types of pet therapy services,” shared Leah Hall, Executive Board Secretary. “Animal-Assisted Activity is our most common. These informal visits bring comfort to people facing mental or physical challenges. Animal-Assisted Therapy pairs pets with healthcare professionals to help patients achieve therapy goals like improving mobility. And our READing Paws program supports children in schools and libraries, creating a judgment-free environment for young readers.”
The impact is profound. Therapy pets enhance cognitive skills, motor functions, and memory, but perhaps their greatest gift is emotional. “I’ll never forget a visit to Emory Rehabilitation Hospital with my previous Happy Tails dog, Wembley,” Hall recalled. “The patient was sitting in a chair and Wembley walked right up to her and laid her head in the woman's lap. She started to cry and said, ‘You don’t know how much I needed this today.’ But I think Wembley did know. I believe the animals can sense when someone needs them and their ability to respond to those emotions is always incredible to see.”
“Happy Tails visits pawsitively uplift the hearts and spirits of the skilled nursing and rehab residents,” shared Mirie Manzour, Volunteer Services Manager at Jewish HomeLife Communities. “These interactions add much life to the residents’ days, distract from pain and instill joy in their hearts.”
As an all-volunteer nonprofit, Happy Tails relies on community support. “We offer monthly orientations for new members and encourage anyone interested in sharing the human-animal bond to join us,” said Hall. “We need more volunteers to expand our reach and donations to cover training and testing costs.”
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"I believe the animals can sense when someone needs them."
Leah Hall