Paws for Love

Multiple studies have shown the special role animals play in human healing and stress relief.  The Humane Society of El Paso’s program, Paws for Love carries out the mission of human healing through our Paws for Love program. 

Paws for Love human/animal volunteer therapy teams would be delighted to visit your nursing home, hospital, school, hospice or rehabilitation center to share the gift of healing.  Paws for Love Animal Assisted Activities and therapy Pet Partners are certified through the Delta Society.  A nationally known and well respected agency, the Delta Society works with Paws for Love volunteers train and register handler/animal teams to provide physical and emotional support to children and adults in a variety of settings. 

The Paws for Love program requires that all handlers receive comprehensive animal handling training and pass and written examination.  All pets participating in the program receive veterinary health screening.  In addition all handler/animals teams are tested together during an aptitude evaluation.

By inviting Pet Partners to your facility, you have confidence that the handler and therapy animal both meet minimum criteria according to the Standards of practice for Animal-Assisted Activities and Therapy.  We recognize your primary concern is to offer a safe, productive experience to the people under you care as well as your staff and other visitors.  Our Paws for Love team will look to you for guidance and trust your insights as the expert for deploying visit assignments. 

If your facility is interested in a Paws for Love visit to your nursing home, hospital, school, hospice or rehabilitation center, contact Joy Duarte at (915)533-2125. 

If you are interested in joining our Paws for Love program contact Carol Douglass at (915)598-8357.

For the Paws for Love Special Events Coordinator contact Melissa Lopez at 

(915)532-5971 ext 12 or email at mlopez@hselpaso.org