PAWS for People Community Newsletter: Early November, 2022

Studies show that therapy pets can help children with autism build social and communication skills and manage their emotions, just as they provide motivation for learning. Our PAWS Autism Initiative trains volunteers to utilize their pets as a motivational bridge to promote learning and social interaction with others, and the results have been impressive!

Ben Franson-Wright & Sadie are a dedicated PAWS Autism Initiative Team, working with teachers and therapists to support individualized plans and goals for each child. Ben recently trained 8 new PAWS teams for this much-needed program. The teams learned how to help students practice and utilize positive social interactions and communication skills in fun ways involving their pets. Teachers have shared that the presence of PAWS therapy pets in the classroom helps students stay calm, focused, and ready to learn!

The PAWS Autism Initiative currently has programs at Brennen School (and 7 partnering schools in the Christina School District) & AI duPont High School in DE and Ridgewood Early Learning Center & Hillendale Elementary in PA. Programs at Newark Charter School and Brick Mill Early Learning Center are in the works.



More PAWS pet therapy teams are needed for this program. If you are interested in learning more or signing up for training, please call the PAWS Office at (302) 351-5622.

Did you know that the kind folks at the National Dog Show have noticed the terrific therapy companions PAWS has and asked us to join the ranks of the Dog Show’s Pet Therapy Ambassadors? Quite an honor, to say the least.

PAWS began its relationship with the National Dog Show early in 2021, attending the Dog Show, taking a class to become Bark Rangers at Valley Forge National Park, and for 2 years now being invited to the October Blessing of the Animals at the Washington National Cathedral in Valley Forge, PA.

The most fun our Dog Ambassadors have is tending the Therapy Dog section of the National Dog Show and meeting hundreds of show attendees who want to learn about pet therapy – and our PAWS dogs and humans are happy to talk about PAWS for People and the important work that they do.

Our current Ambassador teams are: Frangelica & Kathryn Meloni, Mr. Gibbs & Tawanda Harbison, Robbie & Becky Cronin, Tory & Lynne Robinson, Darien & Harry Martens, Charlotte & Kelly Silliman, Archie, Alfie & Sue and Tom Good, Piper & Sheri Kearns, Wesley & Amy Celona, Bella & Luann D’Agostino, Guinness & Fran Levinson, Sienna (posthumously) & Rhonda James and our newest members Holly & Bob Hairgrove and Dagda & Bob Jarvis. 

We have just been asked to provide 4 more teams! 

Requirements: Be a PAWS certified pet therapy team; provide a good close-up photo of dog only, age and complete name of dog, and short bio of dog; and agree to participate in Ambassador activities through the year (2-3) which are all located in the Philadelphia, Valley Forge area. If you are interested, send your photo and info to Lynne and she will forward that to the Dog Show folks for final decisions. (The dog show is Nov. 19 and 20 – so hurry.)

Lynne Robinson, Executive Director

Isla (Amy Grosh) enjoys the sunshine and back rubs from students at a recent DeStress event at Archmere Academy in Claymont, DE. 

Teddy (Teresa Boussom) was a vaccination super hero at the vaccine clinic sponsored by the Chester County Health Department. 

Are you still feeling the loss of a pet?

Come sit with us: listen, share, discuss the process of grieving for a pet you loved or one that is very close to passing.

November 9, 2022 

7:00 pm – 8:30pm

(Occurring bimonthly)

PAWS office

703 Dawson Drive, Newark, DE

Everyone deals with grief differently. People cry, laugh, busy themselves with work, feel numb … the feelings can be unpredictable. Some recover quickly, others take more time.

It is a natural healing process. There is no manual on how to cope with loss and certainly no right or wrong way to go through the stages of grief. And there is no regular timeline that you should adhere to.

Grief is not an emotion to be avoided, but one to acknowledge and walk through the process. Sometimes it grows into something totally different: depression, anxiety. It is part of loving and engaging with life. It is a journey, often scary and without clear direction. But one thing we know for sure, it’s easier to cope with when you have a circle of support to help you through.

Mental Wellness is a major concern for people of all ages and their need for support and treatment is critical, especially with continuing pandemic-related difficulties. Pet Therapy is an effective resource – on its own or incorporated to enhance other programs. Our goal for this webinar is to increase people’s awareness of the benefits of pet therapy and demonstrate the incredible impact that PAWS pet therapy can provide.

Mental Wellness and the Impact of Pet Therapy

A special presentation for mental health and educational professionals

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

10:00 – 11:30 AM 

Please join us virtually on Zoom!

Lynne Robinson, PAWS for People’s Founder and Executive Director, and pet therapy team, since 2005, will be joined by Gina Zanella-Sample, PsyD, to provide insight into the effectiveness and unique impact of Pet Therapy. As subject matter experts, they will present research-based facts to support pet therapy’s effects on the brain and body, explain pet therapy’s role in treatment plans, provide actual examples of PAWS pet therapy success, and offer opportunities for mental health and educational professionals to get involved and utilize PAWS pet therapy services. 

Meet Our Presenter: Gina Zanella-Sample, PsyD

Gina Zanella-Sample has her doctorate in Psychology, her master’s degree in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling, and graduate certificates in Applied Educational Neuroscience and Mental Health Counseling. She is currently a school-based counselor and has been involved in education in Delaware for seventeen years. Her research interests include the impact of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Adverse Childhood Experiences and the application of Applied Educational Neuroscience in Primary and Secondary Education. She serves on the Advisory Council for PAWS for People with expertise in Pet Therapy for Social Emotional Learning/Childhood Trauma. Gina, with her dogs, Luna and Toby, is a PAWS in the Workplace team and experiences pet therapy “magic” daily.

In conjunction with its partnership with the National Dog Show and the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, PAWS for People is promoting two upcoming events:

The National Dog Show: The annual canine extravaganza at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA, is set for the weekend of November 19-20. After two years of pandemic-related constraints, the show expects to be back in full swing. Tickets are priced at $16 for adults, $7 for children ages 4-11, and free for children three and under.

The National Dog Show Therapy Dog Symposium at Rowan University is the only event of its kind in the therapy dog world. It addresses the development of best practices by bringing together therapy dog practitioners, advocates, and aspirants from around the world. The event is set for Wednesday, December 7 and will be both virtual via livestream and in person at Rowan University.

Each year, PAWS creates a calendar featuring our therapy companions. We are excited to announce that the 2023 PAWS calendar is here!

• Only $10
• The 2023 PAWS Wall Calendar is – 11.75″ x 8.25″ closed / 11.75″ x 16.5″ open.
• PAWS therapy pets and info about PAWS programs are highlighted on each month.
• Federal holidays and real, fun holidays are included (e.g., Take your dog to work day.)

Marj & Sophie

Marj Streit and her sweet Corgie/Sheltie mix, Sophie, joined PAWS for People in 2019. Marj knew Sophie’s sweet, snuggly nature would be wonderful with children and the pair quickly completed their PAWS for Reading training and began visits at the Route 9 Library.

As with so many PAWS teams, COVID interrupted Marj and Sophie’s visits, but they were excited to be able to return in person to libraries earlier this year. In addition to Route 9 Library, Marj and Sophie have delighted readers at Brandywine and Claymont Libraries and have offered snuggly support to teens at the Claymont Library's Teen DeStress visits.

Thank you, Marj and Sophie, for your dedication and the joy you bring to everyone you visit.

Carlie & Gizmo

Carlie Sobolewski joined PAWS for People in September of 2019, with her delightful and friendly Pekingese/Shih Tzu mix, Gizmo. This Advanced team enjoys visits through the reading program at Thomas E. Bowe Middle School. Carlie and Gizmo also help the students with DeStress visits at Triton Regional High School and Mary E. Volz Middle School. Gizmo and Carlie are regulars at the Rutgers Woof Wednesday events for the university students.

This dynamic duo does not stop there; in the past, they have participated in local community events, Cardinal Village visits and a PAWS by Special Request visit, too. Gizmo is a busy pup, as Carlie also participates in the PAWS in the Workplace program.

Thank you, Carlie and Gizmo, for your warm and welcoming visits and the continued support of so many in your community.

Thanks to our PAWS Partners