Therapet: Animal Assisted Therapy

Therapet's mission is to utilize specially trained and certified animals to promote health, hope, and healing. Animal Assisted Therapy and Visitation are instrumental in helping our friends and neighbors with social isolation, mental health & medical issues that arise during hospital stays, and with physical & occupational rehab goals. Our animals INSPIRE patients in therapy to walk a little farther, MOTIVATE children to read aloud with confidence, and provide COMFORT to hospital patients.

Therapet is a 100% donor-supported organization and we do not charge any facility, program, or individual for our services. Founded in 1994, Therapet is a local organization that exclusively serves East Texas. A handful of volunteer teams has now grown to over 130 human volunteers, 70 dogs, one cat, and a bird. Our animal teams are at a facility or an event almost every day of the week, all 52 weeks of the year.

Even with so many dedicated volunteers, we are currently unable to meet the demand for our services in East Texas. Our waiting list has grown to 30 facilities. With your help, we hope to recruit and train additional teams in 2026! Interested in certifying your dog as a Therapet? Visit us here: https://therapet.org/volunteer/certification/

See our Events Tab for fun ways to support us or follow us on Facebook!

Would you like to know more about how we motivate, comfort, and inspire East Texans? Click on the programs tab to read about what our amazing volunteers do in our community.