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Paws to Connect
Volume 1, Issue 1: Fall 2025
| | Celebrating the human-animal bond since 1982 | | PAL Max is a superstar at Bishop O'Connell High School. | | |
Hello Friends,
We are thrilled to introduce Paws to Connect — the new quarterly newsletter of People Animals Love (PAL)!
In each edition, we will spotlight the incredible PAL therapy dogs, volunteers, and partners who make our mission come alive, share insights into the growing field of animal-assisted interventions, and highlight ways you can get involved and make a difference.
Whether you're a longtime supporter or new to the PAL family, we’re so grateful to have you with us. Your belief in the transformative power of the human-animal bond makes every visit, every smile, and every life-changing moment possible.
We hope Paws to Connect inspires, informs, and brings a little joy to your inbox. Happy reading!
Pawsitively yours,
| | Heather Gomes
Executive Director | | |
- Therapy Dogs, Service Dogs, and ESAs, oh my!
- Pawprints in the Community
- Get to Know a PAL Team
- Thinking about Volunteering with your Dog?
- In PAL News
- Pupular Mentions
- Paws & Applause
- Do You Speak Dog?
- Get Your Official PAL Merch
- Our Community Needs You!
- Words to Wag By
| | Therapy Dogs, Service Dogs, and ESAs, oh my! | | |
Each type of assistance animal plays a unique role in enhancing people's lives. When we understand the differences between therapy animals, service animals, and emotional support animals, we can better advocate for practices, policies, and programs that support each type of animal and the people who rely on them. Here's a quick rundown so you can test your knowledge and educate others:
A therapy animal is a pet who teams with their guardian/handler to bring joy, comfort, support, and enrichment to people in the community, typically in settings such as schools, hospitals, libraries, and assisted-living facilities.
PAL dogs are therapy animals!
Fun fact: Studies show that spending just a brief amount of time with a therapy dog can lower blood pressure, decrease anxiety, lower stress, and boost mood.
| PAL therapy dog Holly visiting with a young reader at Dolley Madison Library. | |
A service animal is a dog* who is trained to perform specific tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. A service animal has public access rights.
*Fun fact: Miniature horses can work as service animals too.
An emotional support animal (ESA) is a pet who, simply through their companionship, alleviates one or more symptoms of a person's disability, as documented by the person's mental health practitioner. Under the Fair Housing Act, an emotional support animal can live in housing that does not otherwise allow pets.
Fact: There is no ESA registry (so beware of scams)!
| | Pawprints in the Community | | | | |
PAL Folsom getting belly rubs from kids at Virginia Hospital Center's Cancer Survivors Celebration.
PAL Dog Since: 2019
Breed: bernedoodle
Age: 8
Fun Fact: Folsom is named after Johnny Cash’s song Folsom Prison Blues.
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PAL Adam making rounds at George Washington University Hospital visiting with patients and staff.
PAL Dog Since: 2017
Breed: standard poodle
Age: 9
Fun Fact: Adam can play his very own tiny piano.
| | | Cortney F. and PAL Attie, a mini bernedoodle, became a PAL dog-handler team in April. We asked Cortney to tell us about Attie and their volunteer service. | | PAL Attie on her way to a visit at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. | | How did you first get involved in therapy dog work, and what drew you to this particular form of service? I've spent my career working with crime victims in the criminal justice system, and I have been interested in therapy dog work as a post-trauma intervention for a while. But I wasn't interested in volunteering and teaming with my dog in animal-assisted interventions until Attie came along. She's perfectly suited for the work. She LOVES people, and many of her trainers told me she would be great for therapy dog work. | | | How did you know Attie had the right temperament for therapy work? Attie is silly, happy, friendly, and adaptable. She thinks that every person on earth is here to be her new best friend, and she wants to meet everyone on the street. I began bringing her to my classes at the University of Maryland when she was just nine months old. Her favorite time of the class is at the end when the students come to pet her. She loves it. | | How do you take care of Attie's wellbeing and prevent burnout, given the emotional demands of therapy work? One of the first things I do when we get to a PAL visit is pour Attie a bowl of water. I want her to know that she can take a break and grab some water whenever she wants or needs it. When the visit is over, we also have a routine. We take off her bandana, get a treat, and get a toy. Attie loves her toys. When we are finished visiting with the people, she knows it's time to play. | | | Can you tell us one fun fact about Attie? She is very time-oriented. She comes to work with me most days and is next to me when I'm working from home. Attie is done with work at 4:00pm — not 4:04pm and certainly not 5:00pm. At 4:00pm, she wants the laptop closed. Similarly, she goes to sleep at 9:00pm. Being on time is just about the only trait that she shares with her namesake, Atticus Finch. | | PAL Attie visiting with students at the University of Maryland. | | PAL Attie and Cortney after passing their Team Evaluation. | | Thinking About Volunteering with Your Dog? | | |
Interested in learning how you and your dog might become a PAL therapy dog-handler team? Attend our next free online Intro to PAL's Therapy Dog Program on Thursday November 6 at 9am.
During this 40-minute Zoom session, you'll learn about PAL, our therapy dog program, and best practices and competencies in animal-assisted interventions.
| Volunteer Richard G. with PAL Ella and
volunteer Joe H. with PAL Lucy at Chinn Park Library. | | |
PAL therapy teams visit hospitals, senior-living communities, correctional facilities, schools, universities, libraries and many more host sites in the Washington DC metropolitan area.
If you can't attend on November 6, don't worry — online sessions are held monthly.
Sign up for Intro to PAL's Therapy Dog Program today!
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This summer, all PAL staff members (Betty Argenbright, Heather Gomes, and Kelly Grudziecki) and PAL's volunteer Training & Evaluations Coordinator, Kerri Schepers, were certified as Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialists (C-AAIS) by the Association of Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals. The credential demonstrates mastery of five content domains at the proctored C-AAIS certification exam: Animal Welfare and Well-Being, Zoonosis and Infection Prevention, Animal Behavior Awareness, AAI Foundations, and Professional Best Practices. Certification reflects each Team member's commitment to best practices and standards for the ethical inclusion of therapy animals in animal-assisted interventions and to protecting client safety and animal welfare.
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At their 28th annual Celebration of Recovery event in September, National Capital Treatment and Recovery (NCTR) presented PAL with a Regional Community Service Award, recognizing PAL's exceptional contributions to supporting individuals in substance use disorder treatment and recovery.
Deborah S. Taylor, R.N., C.D., President & CEO at NCTR, described the impact of PAL's therapy dog program this way: “Beyond your invaluable work in treatment settings, PAL enriches the lives of countless people throughout the community—bringing joy, reducing isolation, and promoting emotional wellness through the power of the human-animal bond. Your programs demonstrate that compassion, service, and the love of animals can profoundly change lives, whether in a recovery center, a school, or any place in need of comfort and connection.” (Photo L to R: PAL volunteer Marsha L., PAL Executive Director, Heather Gomes, NCTR Chief Operating Officer, George Knoerlein, and NCTR President & CEO, Deborah S. Taylor.)
| | PAL extends our heartfelt thanks to Hannele Lahti (adogphotographer.com) for generously donating her professional photography services to our third annual wall calendar, PALendar 2026: Therapy Dogs Help Us Thrive™. With warmth and artistry, Hannele beautifully captured the spirit of our PAL Dog Photo Contest winners — their gentle souls, joyful energy, and one-of-a-kind personalities. We are deeply grateful for her talent and generosity. Thank you, Hannele! | PAL Rilian and PAL Caspian at their photo shoot. | | |
Paws & Applause
Volunteers and Alumni Doing Paw-some Things
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Inspired by her beagle Hammy, who was rescued from a lab — and went on to become a PAL dog, journalist Melanie D.G. Kaplan set out to uncover the hidden world of animal testing. Her new book, Lab Dog, is a powerful blend of investigative reporting and heartfelt storytelling. It traces Hammy’s journey, explores alternatives to animal experimentation, and offers a hopeful vision for change. We invited Melanie to reflect on her experiences with Hammy as a PAL therapy dog-handler team.
"I didn't know much about beagle Alexander “Hammy” Hamilton when I adopted him in 2013, only that he’d spent the first years of his life in a research lab in Virginia. I definitely didn't know about his preferences for volunteering as a therapy dog. But I knew that he loved my attention and brought me so much joy and delight—and I wanted to share that with other people. So I joined PAL and began taking Hammy to visit patients at George Washington University Hospital. Before long, I decided this wasn’t a good fit. Turns out he was pretty nervous at the hospital; perhaps the sounds and smells triggered something scary from his past. Also, he wasn’t interested in connecting with the patients — only with their uneaten trays of food! So we tried some other venues — with success.
First we visited classrooms to talk to students about Hammy's background and steps they could take to help move us away from animal research, such as shopping for cruelty-free products and writing to elected officials. We also visited a women’s shelter, where Hammy enjoyed sitting quietly with some of the residents."
PAL extends our "paws & applause" to Melanie and PAL Hammy for their service as a PAL therapy team and to Melanie for writing such an important book. You can order your copy of Lab Dog at tinyurl.com/labdogbook or find it in your local bookstore.
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"This remarkable book moved me deeply. With a journalist's eye and insight, Kaplan brings compassion to a subject that has long needed such a voice. Her journey with one beloved beagle, set against the broader history of animal research, is both heartbreaking and hopeful. I recommend this book to everyone who cares about animals--and the future of science."
-Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE
Founder - the Jane Goodall Institute
& UN Messenger of Peace
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Dogs are remarkably attuned to human emotions — they read our facial expressions, vocal tones, body posture, and even the smallest gestures. But communication is a two-way street.
Learning to interpret your dog’s body language deepens trust and strengthens your connection. For therapy dog handlers, this skill is essential: recognizing subtle shifts in a dog’s behavior, anticipating their responses to different environments, and making thoughtful choices to support their well-being are all part of the job.
Understanding our canine friends isn’t just helpful — it’s foundational to the mutuality of the human-animal bond. So, how fluent are you in “dog”?
| | Get Your Official PAL Merch | | At PAL, we believe in the healing, comfort, and joy that come from the extraordinary bond between people and animals. You can help us share that magic with more individuals in need. Here’s how to get involved: | |
Amplify Our Voice Online
Follow us on social media. Like, comment on, and share our posts to spread awareness and connect others to our mission.
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Share the Love
Forward this newsletter to animal-loving, civic-minded friends, family, and colleagues.
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Volunteer — No Dog Required!
We’re looking for passionate individuals to support PAL behind the scenes:
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Social Media Volunteer. Are you creative and social media savvy? Help us craft engaging posts and reels that highlight PAL’s impact and build community connections.
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Bookkeeper. Have experience with QuickBooks Online and accounting? Your skills can help us stay financially healthy and focused on our mission.
Ready to make a difference? Fill out our volunteer application and join the PAL family today!
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| The demand for therapy dog visits is higher than ever. Your gift helps make it possible to train, register, and field more therapy teams. Thank you for making a pawsitive difference in our community with a gift to PAL today! | | “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” ~Dr. Jane Goodall | | If this newsletter was forwarded to you and you wish to receive future issues and updates from PAL, please subscribe by clicking the button below. | | 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. | | | | |
