Charitable Giving

At Happy Tails Pet Therapy,

we believe in the profound healing power of the human-animal bond. Our dedicated volunteers provide much-needed physical, social, emotional, and cognitive therapy to people of all ages throughout the metro Atlanta area. We visit a wide range of settings, including hospitals; assisted living communities and nursing homes; K-12 schools, colleges and universities; behavioral and mental health facilities; developmentally disabled communities; bereavement and grief support groups; summer camps; reading programs; other non-profit organizations, and even the workplace – truly, anywhere a little extra love can make a difference.

Picture the sheer delight and comfort of petting or hugging a gentle, loving animal when you're facing challenges, stress, or isolation. Imagine sharing stories about your own beloved pets, finding a connection and moment of peace. This is the heartwarming impact of Happy Tails.

Happy Tails does this through three programs:

1. Animal-Assisted Activity
Happy Tails’ most popular and most common form of therapy interaction.  The visits are informal and help people who are isolated or away from their home due to mental illness, physical illness or court order. A visit from a dog or cat can brighten their day and motivate them in their therapy or treatment.

2. READing Paws Visits
Specially trained teams volunteer at schools and libraries as reading companions for children. This allows children to practice their reading skills in a safe space free of judgment and criticism. The pets also help bring some joy to what is otherwise seen as a difficult or unpleasant task.

3. Animal-Assisted Therapy
Happy Tails pets are used in conjunction with physical and occupational therapy sessions. They are paired with a client and a healthcare or human services professional. The tasks a pet can help achieve include gaining motion in limbs and fine motor control.

his volunteer-run nonprofit proudly fields more than 200 pet-handler pairs, split into 100 teams, conducting 950 regular visits and 50 additional special visits annually. However, our mission is far from complete. With a waiting list of over 50 entities and new requests arriving daily, the demand for our services is clear. Your gift will directly enable Happy Tails to expand its vital programs, reaching even more individuals and spreading the undeniable power of unconditional animal love.

Sometimes a wet nose and wagging tail is the best medicine.