Pet-Assisted Visitation Volunteer Services, Inc, happily known as PAWS for People, believes strongly in our mission statement: to lovingly provide elders, children, and folks with disabilities individualized therapeutic visits with a loving, affectionate pet.

Description:
PAWS for People is a non-profit volunteer organization consisting of trained therapy pet teams that visit in a number of different settings. Our focus is on eldercare visits which include visits to adult day care, assisted living, healthcare, and Alzheimer's living situations. Our teams also visit in Easter Seals facilities, 3 area hospitals, and/or work with children through our READ (Reading Education Assistance Dogs (and Cats!) program in 6 local libraries and 3 school settings.

PAWS provides a basic training for all pet teams, evaluates the pet for appropriate personality for visiting, and assists all teams on their first visit to any new facility or program. Then teams visit on an "at least twice per month" basis, making friends and building relationships with the folks they see now on a regular basis.

In addition to the training and coordination of visits, PAWS offers additional training in the form of workshops and seminars where we discuss topics that can help broaden and strengthen the team's visiting skills. And since we all have great pets and like to have fun with them, PAWS also offers some purely social events like the fall Pet Picnic, PAWS Winter Workshops, and a special pet/people gathering during the holidays. At these events our members can get to know each other and feel more connected to our organization as a whole.

History:
PAWS was founded in February of 2005 and is proud to say that in just a little over 2 years, we have earned a reputation for exceptionally well-trained teams, a wide variety of visiting options, and the development of several new programs geared to the populations where we visit.

Contact people:

Lynne Robinson, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Cathy Amick, Vice President, (phone), (email) Stephanie Barry, Office Manager, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (410) 398-1711

Address:

P.O. Box 1353 Hockessin, DE 19707

Web Site: http://PAWSforPeople.org

Directions:

Our visiting and events all take place in different locations. For maps or information, please see http://www.septa.com/

Miscellaneous Information

Are court referrals welcomed?
	No