Paws With Patience is a non-profit volunteer pet therapy group operating in Bucks and Lehigh Counties.   It consists of caring  people who volunteer their pets and personal time to visit nursing and retirement homes.  Sharing special animals to bring a little happiness to people who so desperately need something to hold and love is the purpose and goal of Pet Therapy work.  Visits often bring memories of pets left behind.  Occasionally, a withdrawn or very ill resident will respond to a therapy animal when no other means of communication has been effective. 

Donations are accepted to keep our all volunteer group going. 

Members of Paws With Patience visit nursing homes in the area as a group.  Our visits are monthly at each home and last one hour.  Animals, as well as handlers and the residents of the homes, benefit from this form of therapy.  Here's a letter from one of our visitees:

I just wanted to let you know of the kindness of one of your members, Dorothy Rondeau and her beautiful German Shepherd, Tessa. My 12 year old son, who is diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, has visited twice with Tessa in local parks, and it has been a wonderful experience for him and a real boost to his self esteem.

I can't say enough about the value of pet therapy  for  the elderly and special needs kids... and just about anyone!

Thank you for making it possible, through your organization, for us to meet Dorothy and Tessa!

Sincerely,
Nan Jacobs

   And a resident of the Brightfield home, Julie has shared wonderful letters with us.  She says in one "YES, BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL AND NICE DOGS ARE SIMPLY GREAT".  

     Any breed is eligible.  The dog must be sociable and under the handler's control at all times.  They are to remain on leash during the whole visit.  The dog needs to be up-dated on all vaccinations, and a veterinary record must be given to the Paws With Patience  coordinator.

    Paws With Patience offers testing for dogs to be certified as Therapy Dogs through Therapy Dogs Incorporated.  In addition to providing certification Therapy Dogs Incorporated provides members with an insurance policy.  Please visit our How To Join page for more information on Therapy Dog certification.

     Are you a relative of a home resident?  Check to see if we visit your loved one's home on our visitation schedule page.  If we do, we'd love to pay a special visit for you!  Send us the room number and name of your friend or relative and we'll make sure one of our therapy dogs stops by to see them on our next visit.  If we don't visit your relative's home and you would like us to, send us the home's name and location and we will ask them to consider adding Paws With Patience to their activities schedule.  

If you are the activities director for a home, we would love to discuss adding Paws With Patience to your activities schedule.  Please contact us.