The mission of People Animals Love (PAL) is to use the power of the human-animal bond to comfort the lonely, ease the pain of the sick, and enrich people’s lives. PAL screens, trains, and registers volunteer therapy dog-handler teams and coordinates their visits at more than 100 community partner host sites. PAL teams make more than 2,000 visits a year, serving 7,000 people monthly in the DC metro area. PAL teams help to build stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities by:
- connecting with veterans and senior residents of retirement homes and long-term care facilities, reducing loneliness and promoting well-being;
- giving a joyful and needed break to police officers, hospital frontline workers, and hardworking school staff;
- supporting families fleeing violence by providing safe spaces and opportunities for gentle, healing touch;
- delivering stress relief and mental health support for elementary, middle, high school, and college students;
- listening to children read without judgment or correction, helping them build their confidence, in libraries and schools;
- comforting animal-loving hospice patients and their families; and
- complementing health professionals’ therapeutic and recreational services for clients.
For more information, please visit www.peopleanimalsove.org.