by Rachel Tallant
Do you stop and say hello to every fuzzy friend who passes you by on a walk? With over 500 volunteer pet-therapy teams, PAWS for People provides animal therapy services to people of all ages and backgrounds. I sat down with Karen Kohler, dog lover and proud HAC member to hear about her 19 years with PAWS for People.
Life Rooted in Care
Karen was first exposed to pet therapy when she worked as an Activities Director for 3 years at Kendall at Longwood, an independent and assisted living facility in Kennett Square. She first began volunteering when she was 16 years old. “And I’ve been going strong ever since.” Dedicated to her community, Karen took her love of dogs and volunteering to a new level when she learned about PAWS.
A Visit Worth Wagging For
Knowing Karen’s love of dogs and history with volunteering, a friend of hers had suggested PAWS for People to her. She went through training with her dog, a yellow lab named Gunner, in 2007. Early in her time with PAWS, Karen and Gunner attended the Delaware Air National Guard deployment ceremonies as a therapy team. Karen’s husband, Jim, was a commander in the Delaware Air National Guard during the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns in 2003 and 2004, so she knew how emotional the deployment events could be. The uncertainty of when people would see their loved ones again usually made for a long, bittersweet day. Gunner lifted everyone’s spirits, especially the younger attendees, during the event. “Everyone lit up with happiness,” Karen remembers. “People started telling me about their dogs – they were just so happy to have a diversion.”
Gunner passed away in 2013 after nearly 14 years with the Kohler family. Four months later, Karen and her husband adopted Piper, a Shih Poo (Shih Tzu/Toy Poodle mix), when he was eight weeks old.
Where Piper Goes to Work
Today, Karen and Piper volunteer all over Delaware at least four times a month. Their current visits include:
- Kirkwood Library, where people of all ages (mostly children) read to Piper
- Sean’s Room, the mental wellness room at St. Mark’s High School
- Delaware Air National Guard and Delaware Army National Guard events for deployments, homecomings, and yellow ribbon activities when they arise.
- Avon Grove Early Learning Center
- Other community and work de-stress events
In the past, their visits have also included Millcroft Living, Christiana Care, Newark Library, Linden Hill Elementary School, Newark Library, and Delaware Hospice
Karen’s most frequent stop is the Kirkwood Library, where children and people of all ages can read to Piper. It might sound silly to read a book to a dog; however, this encourages patience and provides a stress-free environment for children to practice their reading skills. “It’s so sweet to have children reading to the dog and showing him the pictures,” Karen says. “You know that you’re helping kids learn to read, and the kids will go home and practice reading so that they can read better for Piper.” She says that often, children recognize her as “Piper’s mom.”
Karen is also the leader of the bereavement ministry at her church. For all the places Piper goes and all the people he meets, Karen still returns to one early memory with Gunner when she thinks about the true impact of this work.
When Comfort Changes Everything
In 2007, when Karen first started volunteering with PAWS, she was assigned to the physical therapy department at Millcroft. Here, elderly and injured patients learned mobility skills by brushing, throwing a ball for, or walking beside a therapy animal – in Karen’s case, it was Gunner. Even though Gunner was very active, often pulling on the leash with excitement, he was calm and focused when he was at work. “One time, Gunner was walking beside a woman with a walker. When she made it across the whole room, the staff said, ‘Well, she’s never done that before!’” Having worked in hospitals and assisted living facilities for many years, Karen recognized instantly how special the moment was. This memory stayed with her throughout her volunteer work and showed her the real impact it was having on individuals.
Small Moments, Lasting Impact
Karen connected me with Kate Rosenthal, the Advancement Director for PAWS for People. I asked her how different populations respond to dog therapy. “Interestingly, the interactions between the person and the pet, regardless of the age or condition or disability, are really similar in all of those different environments,” says Kate. It’s always exciting to see a dog in an environment where there aren’t typically animals. Sometimes, the first reaction is joy and excitement. But overall, once people interact with the therapy animal, there’s a sense of calm and comfort. “They’re petting the pet. They’re talking to the pet. In therapeutic settings with counseling, particularly with children, they’ll open up to the pet in ways they wouldn’t with a peer or adult,” Kate explains. “It’s a 360-degree positive experience, even for the pets.” PAWS volunteers consistently report that their pets truly enjoy the socialization that comes with therapy work. Those visited by PAWS teams see clear benefits, too. Each visit helps to reduce discomfort and stress for people in difficult situations.
At a recent PAWS for People fundraising event, a middle school principal shared with Kate the impact the dogs had on their students. “There was a marked decline in behavior issues,” she remembers. The students were coping better with their everyday stressors. That ripple effect is what keeps PAWS for People moving forward and why their call for volunteers, support, and community awareness is always ongoing.
How to Get Involved
For those interested in getting involved, the most direct path is becoming a therapy team with your pet. PAWS for People isn’t exclusive to dogs; they also accept cats and bunnies. Training is different between species. To become a member and therapy team, you must fill out an application on their website, complete a phone intake, and attend orientation and training sessions where animals must be able to complete a list of commands. Karen and Piper are an advanced team, which means Piper will stay calm in a room full of people when a sudden noise or movement happens, or even when Karen leaves the room. “We give them the tools they need for visiting from a practical sense,” says Kate. After the certification process, PAWS will match volunteers according to their availability, the populations they want to work with, and what may best suit their pet’s interests or abilities.
For readers without a pet, Kate emphasizes that there are still plenty of ways to support their work. Support can take many forms: volunteering, donating, attending an event, or simply helping someone discover the organization for the first time. PAWS for People has over 500 pet therapy teams. It’s become this size because of the personal relationships formed between volunteers and the institutions they serve. Whether through a visit, a donation, or simply sharing their story, PAWS for People is built on one simple idea: small acts of care can make a lasting difference.
Get involved with PAWS!
From September 17th to October 17th, PAWS for People is hosting its annual Wag and Walkathon, a 30-day virtual marathon to raise funds to support all the work of their volunteers. On the last day, October 17th, there will be a PAWS Furry Fall Festival at Delcastle Park. Come out, say hi to Piper and the other therapy animals, and spread the word!
Check out PAWS for People’s website and learn how you can get involved: https://pawsforpeople.org/
