The Dog Who Started It All
When Lily, a black Lab with soulful eyes and a calming presence, entered Amy’s life, the timing was serendipitous. Amy Theisen Walz and her family of five were unknowingly battling anxiety and depression. Each was silently struggling. Each feeling alone. But Lily, as Amy puts it, “pulled us together as a unit.” The dog’s unconditional love and intuitive comfort got them through their teenager's toughest years. When Lily passed in 2019, the impact of her presence was so profound that Amy envisioned a new path forward. She wanted to bring that same kind of healing to others.
A Golden Vision Takes Root
Shortly after Lily’s passing, Amy had a vision. A golden retriever that would become the next chapter in her story. That dog became Willow, a gift from a friend that would grow into something more. Amy trained Willow as a therapy dog with one idea. She wanted to be a spark of hope for those silently battling mental illness. She originally thought she’d work with moms under the weight of perfectionism or volunteer at Mercy Hospital, offering comfort to outpatient patients. But then COVID hit. Hospitals closed their doors to volunteers.
Plan B: The School Hallway
When Amy’s neighborhood principal got a COVID puppy and invited her to connect, a new door opened. The local school district. With Willow by her side, Amy started visiting schools with one mission. Create space for mental health conversations that were safe, stigma-free, and centered around joy. What started as a pilot program became the heart of a new nonprofit: You’re Not Alone.
Why It Works: Dogs, Dopamine, and Vulnerability
There’s science behind the magic. “When you see a dog,” Amy explains, “your brain releases oxytocin.” That happy chemical lowers your blood pressure and helps you relax. Add in a quiet space and an open-hearted adult, and suddenly middle schoolers are talking. They talk about bullying, depression, anxiety, even suicidal thoughts. “These are things they’d never tell a school counselor,” Amy says. “They’d have to see them every day and feel judged.” But Willow? She’s just Willow. And Amy is just “Willow’s mom.”
Breaking the Stigma, One Puppy Pass at a Time
One of the first things the program corrected was a misstep. In the early days, some schools only let students “with issues” meet the dogs. That created a stigma. If you saw the dog, people assumed something was wrong. Now, any student can get a “puppy pass” during lunch or recess. In 15-minute sessions, small groups get time to pet, relax, and talk if they want to. “The goal isn’t therapy,” Amy says. “It’s connection, comfort, and compassion.”
From One School to Fifty and Growing
Amy started with one school. But when a feature on WCCO aired just as the nonprofit was getting its footing, the message exploded. Calls and emails poured in from across the country. Within a year, You’re Not Alone had expanded to 23 schools. Today, they’re in 43, with over 50 trained therapy dog teams. A waiting list of 30 more schools is ready to join.
The Stories That Keep Her Going
Amy doesn’t just bring dogs. She brings her truth. She shares the story of her son, Alex, who survived bullying and depression. Today, he teaches high school and coaches basketball. “I asked him if I could use his story,” she says. “He told me, ‘If it’s for good and for change. Yes.’” Amy shares her own journey too. Years of struggling with undiagnosed mental illness, finally getting help in her thirties. It’s those layers of honesty that make her visits powerful.
More Than a Visit: A Lifeline
Each therapy dog team leaves behind more than just memories. There are trading cards. Plush “mini-me” dogs that stay in the social worker’s office. Decks of cards with conversation prompts like, “What’s something that makes you feel proud?” For many students, these are the first moments someone has looked them in the eye and said, “You matter.”
How to Help
The nonprofit is entirely community-funded. It runs on donations and grants from people and businesses who believe in the mission. But what they need most now are volunteers with kind-hearted dogs and time to give. “If you love kids and your dog loves people, we’ll teach you the rest,” Amy says. She holds monthly info sessions on becoming a certified therapy dog team and changing lives one paw at a time.
A Mission That Was Meant to Be
Amy believes this work. This beautiful, healing work. It’s what she was meant to do. “I thought Plan A was working in a hospital. But COVID changed everything. And it turns out, Plan B was better.” Willow may have started as a vision in a dream, but today, she’s the face of a movement that’s making school hallways feel more hopeful.
For more info, upcoming events, to donate or volunteer, or to watch a video about this amazing program's story, visit ynausa.org.