The mission of Caring Canines is to provide exemplary volunteer visits with our dogs to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals, schools and residential programs in an effort to improve the quality of life and emotional health of those served. All Caring Canines visits are free-of-charge. With committed, trained volunteers, Caring Canines is able to expand the therapeutic role that our canine companions provide for those in need.

Caring Canines is a 501(C)3 organization with an administration of dedicated volunteers, consisting of a Board of Directors and an Advisory Committee. Funding is maintained by small annual registration fees and occasional gifts from supportive contributors.
 

Board of Directors:

Executive Director:  Marilyn Gilbert
Program Coordinator:  Dorsey Arnold
Treasurer:  Sue Wartman
Clerk:  Sandra Drought
Facilities Liaison:  Carleen O'Brien
Hug-A-Pet Directors:  Kate Bauer-Burke and Lisa Lewis
Mentoring Director:  Gale Halpern
Registration Renewals:  Joan Pickett
Director of Training:  Sandra Drought

Small Beginnings

Our program started as an informal group of handlers and their registered therapy dogs.  We began visiting together and soon had a steady visitation schedule.  We called our small program "Hug A Pet" as it seemed most descriptive of what we were offering with our four little dogs.

Here are our four founding pet therapists:


Trina, who was particularly fond of friends in wheelchairs

Winston

Sasha


Choti