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Paws to Connect
Volume 1, Issue 2: Winter 2026
| | Celebrating the human-animal bond since 1982 | | PAL Sadie enjoying the attention of students at McLean High School. | | |
Hello Friends,
As Suzanne Clothier observes in Bones Would Rain from the Sky, "Dogs remind us that the only place that dynamic quality can occur is in the moment of now." At PAL, our volunteer handlers, dogs, and the people they visit experience this truth every day: when we bring our full awareness and curiosity to even the simplest moments of connection, the rewards are immense. Case in point: the mutual gaze between dog and human can raise levels of oxytocin, the so-called feel-good hormone, in both human and dog.
Thank you for paws-ing to connect with us this PALentine's weekend. After you've read our newsletter, I hope you'll put down your phone or shut off your computer and gaze into the eyes of a dog or human.
Pawsitively yours,
| | Heather Gomes, C-AAIS
Executive Director | | |
- Pawprints in the Community
- Get to Know a PAL Team
- Betty's Story
- Thinking about Volunteering with your Dog?
- Meet a Host Site Partner
- A PAL Dog Salute to Jane Goodall
- 2025 Impact Report
- Welcome New PAL Therapy Teams!
- Did you Know?
- Get Your Official PAL Merch
- Our Community Needs You!
- Words to Wag By
| | Pawprints in the Community | | |
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PAL Holly
PAL Dog Since: 2023
Breed: Lab Mix
Age: 9
Visits: Old Firehouse Teen Center, McLean High School, and Dolley Madison Library, among others.
Fun Fact: When Holly sees her leash come out for a walk, she gets so excited that she sneezes.
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PAL Rory
PAL Dog Since: 2024
Breed: Golden Retriever
Age: 3
Visits: Melwood, Model Secondary School for the Deaf, Goodwin House Senior Living, and Carpenter's Shelter, among others.
Fun Fact: Rory's favorite store in which to browse on a rainy day is Michaels.
| | | Lisa J. and PAL Willey celebrated their 11th PAL-iversary this past January. We asked Lisa to tell us about Willey and their volunteer service. | | PAL Willey is the best part of recess at Quander Road School. | | How did you first get involved in therapy dog work, and what drew you to this particular form of service?
I didn't know anything about therapy dog work when I saw a flyer at my local branch of the Arlington Public Library about a Read to a Dog program. The flyer led me to PAL, where I learned about the amazing work therapy dogs do in the community. We had been seriously talking about getting a dog and I told my husband we needed a dog who could be a therapy dog. That was in Spring 2013, and not long after, Willey arrived. | | | How did you know Willey had the right temperament for therapy work?
I already knew the little 8-week-old fluff ball who came home with us was destined for therapy work! We started early on taking him places — work, events, shopping, travel. Anything that got him exposed to different environments. He was very easy to train, quite calm for a puppy, gentle in all interactions, and happy to be out in public. It was a perfect fit! | | |
Can you tell us about a memorable interaction you've witnessed between your therapy dog and someone you've visited?
Years ago we were visiting a local university at the start of the school year. One first-year student sat with us petting Willey. As she rubbed Willey's belly, she told us how much she missed home and her dog and how hard the adjustment was. She was so appreciative of these few minutes to sit and pet a dog during a stressful time. It was a simple moment, but captures the power of dogs.
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What misconceptions do some people have about therapy dogs or the work that you do?
One misconception I’ve come across, especially when it comes to school visits, is that therapy dogs are just there for fun or as a novelty. And while yes, they are fun, there’s so much more to it. The impact dogs can have is real and measurable. Research shows that spending even a few minutes with a dog can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and help people feel more calm and focused.
| | PAL Willey gets lots of love at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. | | PAL Willey listening to an Elephant & Piggie book at Lyles Crouch Traditional Academy. | | |
On May 4, 2017, my life changed in an instant. My husband and our four-year-old son were in a head-on collision. The accident landed my husband in the ICU and our son in the Pediatric ICU at UVA Hospital.
Our son Wyatt’s injuries were the most severe. He was in a halo for a fractured neck for four months. The first few weeks of those we spent in the intensive care unit. Those were dark days, full of tears, prayers, and a type of fear I had not known existed. My son was afraid and didn’t understand why this was happening. There wasn’t much he had to look forward to at the time. He could not move or play. The days were long and scary.
On about the 4th or 5th day, we had a visitor, it was a dog-handler team. I don’t remember what group they were with, but I do remember George the Border Collie. He gave Wyatt something to get excited about. George was so gentle and careful. The volunteer probably saw a scared child and a crying mother. What she may not have seen is the hope she and George brought to us. The reminder to find the good in a really bad situation. She did not hear the conversations we had after each visit, my little boy excitedly telling everyone about his canine visitor.
I wanted to share this story to say THANK YOU to all of the amazing men and women who volunteer with their pups. You may never get to see just how much of a difference you make, but I assure you...the impact is massive! You bring sunshine to dark days, you bring hope and excitement where it wasn’t present before, you offer a friend for the lonely, and so much more. ~Betty Argenbright, PAL Therapy Dog Program Manager
| | Thinking About Volunteering with Your Dog? | | |
PAL is always looking for new volunteer therapy teams to spread more love in our communities. If you're thinking about teaming with your dog as a registered therapy team, sign up for Intro to PAL's Therapy Dog Program on Tuesday February 17 from 7:00 to 7:40pm. During this Zoom session, we'll help you assess your dog’s temperament and suitability for animal-assisted interventions.
| Volunteer Jean W. with PAL Max and volunteer Leighton Q. with PAL Steele
on their way to a wellness visit with the U.S. Coast Guard front office staff. | | |
PAL has been making therapy visits to MedStar Washington Hospital Center since 2021. We asked Tameka Glen, Director of Patient Experience & Volunteer Services, to tell us more about the effect PAL therapy visits have on their patients and staff.
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What motivated you to bring therapy dogs to your facility?
Our primary motivation was to provide staff and patients with an opportunity to reduce stress and promote emotional well-being. Healthcare can be high-pressure and emotionally demanding, and we recognized that therapy dogs could create moments of joy, comfort, and connection that positively impact everyone in the hospital.
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How do the visits complement your existing programs or services?
The visits are a natural complement to our employee wellness initiatives, patient support services, and overall culture of care. They work alongside mindfulness programs, stress reduction workshops, and patient engagement efforts, reinforcing the hospital’s commitment to mental health, compassion, and holistic well-being.
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What changes have you observed in residents/clients/patients during and after therapy dog visits?
We’ve seen immediate reductions in stress and anxiety, with employees reporting improved mood and energy after interacting with the dogs. Patients often show increased engagement, smiles, and laughter, even during challenging treatments. These visits create moments of connection that positively impact the hospital environment as a whole.
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Can you share a particularly memorable moment or story from a therapy dog visit?
One memorable moment was when a patient who had been isolated due to treatment anxieties lit up at the sight of a therapy dog. The patient began to interact, laugh, and even share stories about their own pets at home. That small moment of human-animal connection had a profound effect on the patient’s mood and outlook for the day.
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How have your staff members responded to the therapy dog program?
Our staff have been overwhelmingly supportive and appreciative. Many take scheduled breaks specifically to visit with the dogs, and some have shared that these visits help them feel recharged, more connected to their team, and better able to care for patients. The program has become a meaningful part of our hospital culture.
| | | | A PAL Dog Salute to Jane Goodall | | On November 12, 2025, twenty-three PAL therapy dog-handler teams had the honor of paying tribute to Dr. Jane Goodall at the celebration of her life at the Washington National Cathedral. At the request of the Jane Goodall Institute USA, PAL dogs lined the Cathedral steps in a touching “Dog Salute,” offering comfort to Jane’s family members, friends, and colleagues. | |
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Check out PAL's 2025 Impact Report, a heart‑warming snapshot of a year filled with wagging tails, healing moments, and community connection, when PAL therapy dog teams brought comfort, joy, and companionship to thousands across the region — from seniors and students to patients and families — demonstrating how powerful the human–animal bond can be. See all the places PAL dogs visited and the people and organizations who made our work possible. Read the full report by clicking the image.
| | Welcome New PAL Therapy Teams! | | Three new therapy dog-handler teams have joined our ranks in 2026 so far. | | |
My PAL dog Dulles and I recently made our first visit to Culpepper Gardens Senior Living, and it was such a healing and heartwarming experience.
Dulles was at his very best. He slowly walked up to residents who wanted to see him and leaned his big head on their laps. He laid at the feet of others. Everyone told him how beautiful he was.
It was so nice to talk to the residents and hear the stories of the pets they’ve owned in their life. They shared pictures of their pets (many, many pictures!).
Toward the end of the visit, a lady came into the lobby gathering area. She had tennis balls on the bottom of the walker. Dulles slowly turned his head and locked in on the tennis balls, just staring. Bewildered, really. “He sees the tennis balls!” she said. Dulles is a bulletproof therapy dog, but tennis balls are his kryptonite. He lumbered closer to her and plopped down with the most forlorn expression, head between the walker’s legs.
Then we both started talking for him. “Why did you have to hurt the tennis balls? What did you ever do to them?” and then, “Help!! There’s a medical emergency — the tennis ball has been impaled!”
She almost fell out of her chair laughing and I had tears rolling down my face. It was so cathartic. This is why we do what we do. ~PAL handler, Andie N.
| | Dogs do not always want to be petted. And each dog has preferences for when, where, how, and by whom they like to be petted. Here's a short list of body language indicators that can help you asses whether your dog, or another, enjoys the attention. It is always important to observe canine body language in context. Below are some indicators that a dog may be saying "yes" or "no" to an interaction. | | |
Dog Saying "Yes"
They initiate it by moving into your space
They put their head or body under your hand
They pull your hand toward them with their paw
The muscles of their face are relaxed
Their eyes get droopy
They flop their body down like a rag doll
They flop their body onto YOU
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Dog Saying "No"
They duck their head away when you reach for them
They move away
They look away
They leave the area
They yawn
They scratch themselves
They lick their lips
They lift a paw
They show “whale eye”
and of course some more obvious things like growling and snapping
| | To see the Canine Consent Test in action, watch this You Tube video by clicking the image below. | | 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.
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Board Member. Have experience or interest in nonprofit governance, fundraising, finance, marketing, law, community outreach, animal welfare, human health, or social services? Amplify PAL's impact and play a key role in shaping PAL's future by joining our Board of Directors.
Ready to make a difference? Fill out our volunteer application or email heather@peopleanimalslove.org.
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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! | | |
"Imagine walking through a richly inhabited world of Birch people, Bear people, Rock people, beings we think of ... as persons worthy of our respect, of inclusion in a peopled world. We Americans are reluctant to learn a foreign language of our own species, let alone another species. But imagine the possibilities. Imagine the access we would have to different perspectives, the things we might see through other eyes, the wisdom that surrounds us ... Imagine how much less lonely the world would be."
~ Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass
| | 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. | | | | |
