Lynne Robinson, Founder and Executive Director of PAWS for People spoke about the 15 year history and future of the Delaware based agency, matching volunteers and friendly dogs, cats and bunnies with people who could use the therapeutic interaction with an animal. She described how 650 trained volunteer teams visit at more than 200 sites throughout Delaware, parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Marylandwith more than 24 specialized programs – at schools, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, libraries and homes, working with the elderly, people with learning or cognitive disability, PTSD, and more. Lynne and her teams work with children who are having difficulty with reading skills and with the incarcerated to provide the animal/human touch. In answer to this year’s COVID quarantines they have taken their summer library program virtual, the PAWS for Reading Summer Challenge asked students to pledge to read 20 minutes a day through August 31. They can download program materials and readers who achieve 1,000 minutes receive a special reward. She described the training – for the volunteer as well as the pet, and the process for becoming a member of the team. For more information, to learn how to volunteer with or without a pet, to make a donation, to request a visit, or to purchase a copy of Lynne’s book, Healers – the Deeper Impact of Pet Therapy, go to PAWSforPeople.org
