Beesley’s Paw Prints Pet Therapy Program is expanding its reach to provide comfort and support to more families in times of tragedy by launching a new community outreach initiative they’re calling “Beesley’s Gentle Paws Response & Relief.”
Gio and Saoirse are two of the 85 certified therapy dogs in the program, which is a collaboration of the Children’s Advocacy Center and the United Way.
They’re pros at providing comfort.
The dogs and their owners volunteer their time visiting schools, hospitals and VA clinics. They also join children during therapy sessions at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida.
“She tends to find the person in the room that needs her most, and I have no clue who it is, but she will seek them out and just sit with them and they’ll pet her and talk to her,” said Cindy Pledger, Saoirse’s owner and longtime volunteer with the program.
But now Beesley’s Paw Prints wants to be a resource more families can turn to in times of tragedy. Whether it’s a hurricane or a horrific car crash, the dogs will respond to this new outreach initiative.
