PAWS Pet Therapy

21/09/2025

PAWS Pet Therapy Star Team of the Week 🌟

This Week we shine the spotlight on Liz & Luna!

"We graduated in February 2023. Luna and I have visited 2 different aged care facilities but found Luna wasnt wasnt well suited to this type of facility. We then visited International Grammar School for 10 months. We've also done visits to the Sydney Children's Hospital, University of Technology Sydney at exam time, and a community centre program.

I love that Luna lifts the heart of people in the community who miss their own dog/s, or just want to spend time with dogs. Luna engages well with people and can make them smile even if they are having a rough time. Bringing a smile to some of our vulnerable community members is so rewarding!"

What a team! 🏆

19/09/2025

18/09/2025

Showing just how valued and appreciated PAWS dogs are - Pretty Polly was the first girl to be enrolled in Newington College. To celebrate the occasion, she was awarded with a specially made bandana and warm coat, donning the Newington emblem.
Well done Anne & Polly!

18/09/2025

The best way to brighten anyone's day. A lovely picture of KT & Macy; Alison & Luna; Ren & Winnie, at University of Wollongong RUOK? Day. We love working with wellbeing staff to support school and university students.

16/09/2025

Our faithful old training hospital bed is officially clocking off after helping us train over 400 PAWS teams. 🛏🐶

It has seen dogs of every shape and size being carefully placed for cuddles, supported volunteers honing their skills on pretend patients suffering a range of afflictions, and probably overheard more “good boys” and “clever girls” than any other bed in history.

Thanks to the generous support of Wollondilly Shire Council, we’re upgrading to a shiny new training bed with all the bells and whistles — promising no more clunky ups & downs, scaring the bed-ridden "patient", dog and handler!

Here’s to smoother training days, meeting and training new teams, and a bed that won’t collapse under the weight of 400+ more cuddles. 💜🐾

Thanks also to our good friends Steve & Tania Mackie, who found and delivered our old bed many years ago - the old girl has earned her retirement!

16/09/2025

PAWS Pet Therapy Star Team of the Week 🌟

This week we shine the spotlight on Jeff & Kellie!

"We completed our training and assessment in February 2025 and have been blessed to visit The Southern Cross Aged Care Facility in Caves Beach and a special education school in Shortland, each on a fortnightly basis.

To see the joy on faces as they interact with Kellie is fantastic! I am constantly so proud of her as she adapts to the emotions of the individuals she meets, going from tail wagging and lapping up the pats, to gently resting her head on those that are fragile.

A recent highlight for us was travelling to Canberra to visit staff of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, giving them a bit of time oit during a stressful period. We took the opportunity to visit our federal member of parliament, Dan Rapacholi, special envoy for men's health, to talk about the benefits of pet therapy on mental health.

For me, volunteering with PAWS, and witnessing the joy Kellie brings to so many people, gives me so much pleasure and purpose during my retirement. For anyone that might have some time to spare, I highly recommend checking out how you and your fur baby might bring some happiness to others. Have a chat to the wonderfully passionate and helpful team at PAWS Pet Therapy today!"

What a team 🏆

15/09/2025

Today at the University of Tasmania, Rozelle campus, the students had triple the love (and maybe triple the confusion!) at their belated RUOK? Day event — with 3 PAWS dogs - 2 Frankies and a Franki!

I'm sure it was a bit like canine déjà vu - every time someone called out “Frankie!”. But these 3 were ready and willing to help!

Let's face it, you can never have too many Frankies (or Frankis) when it comes to supporting student's mental health.

11/09/2025

RUOK?

08/09/2025

PAWS Pet Therapy Star Team of the Week 🌟

This week we shine the spotlight on Kathy & Frankie!

"We began our PAWS journey in November 2024 with our first placement being weekly visits to Royal North Shore Hospital in the dialysis unit. Frankie was well loved by those in the ward who had to spend many hours there receiving treatment. The nursing staff said Frankie Wednesday was their favourite day! So many looked forward to her weekly visit, bringing her treats and toys. One of the nurses even brought her a red rose soft toy for Valentines Day.! During that time, we also visited a summer camp.for 8 to 18 year old with Muscular Dystrophy. Working with a fellow PAWS team, our session was used as an icebreaker to start the camp, encourage connection and help kids relax into the environment. Since the hospital visits ended, we've been doing many diffraction types of one-off visits, from HSC Support at various libraries, to student distress and mental health at UTS and Sydney Uni, to an open day at Macquarie Uni. Our last visit was to the Department of the Prime Minister & Cabinet in Canberra to aid in employee wellbeing during a time of peak workload requirements.

I really love the variety of the PAWS visits and especially enjoy working with other teams. Its very special watching the dogs work together to make such a difference to the emotional and mental well-being of others. They are so loved and appreciated, many comment it has made their day, given them the break to reset they needed, or shared that this type if visit has helped them when things aren't quite going to plan for them. Some students share their feelings of being homesick and show pictures and tell stories of their dogs that they miss. The joy and emotion the dogs elicit is magical to see.

Its fabulous to meet other volunteers too! So, if you're considering becoming involved in the therapy dog space, I'd really recommend PAWS. The training is thorough and professional but fun, the visits are varied and interesting and the support is great. But the best aspect is sharing such special moments with my Golden Retriever Frankie and seeing her natural love of people shine through, whilst seeing the happiness and benefits her visits bring to others."

What a team 🏆

01/09/2025

If you met up with any of our lovely teams at the Camden Volunteer Expo on Saturday, and would like more info on joining our team, please give us a call! 0418 869 181

Happy to have a no-obligation chat about the work we do and how you can join our team.

Thanks David & Bronix, Julianne & Saxon, and Gary & George. ☺

31/08/2025

PAWS Pet Therapy Star Team of the Week 🌟

This week we shine the spotlight on Kathryn & Whitney!

"We completed our training day in February 2024 and started our first placement soon after.

We started with regular monthly visits at an aged care facility and that lasted for around a year. More recently we've started at a youth support network on a regular fortnightly basis. In between we've visited hospitals, palliative care, universities, and some workspaces!

I had been wanting to volunteer with an organisation like PAWS for years, so when the opportunity finally came up, I couldn't let it pass me by. From the time Whitney was a puppy I knew she'd make a wonderful therapy dog - she absolutely loves people, and being showered with pats is pure heaven for her! It's such a joy to watch her interact with others; it's rare for anyone to meet her and not fall in love right away. Like so many other volunteers, when Whitney gets to put that vest on, she knows what's going to happen and it's lovely to see how enthusiastic she is to get going!

If you're thinking about volunteering, I say go for it! We all lead busy lives, but somehow, you make the time - because you know the joy your dog brings to others is worth it. The smiles, the connection, the moments shared with people who truly look forward to seeing your dog - it's all incredibly rewarding. But perhaps the most valuable part is the deeper bond you build with your dog through the experience. And that's truly priceless."

What a team 🏆

28/08/2025

Another amazing cause, celebrating and protecting the human/animal bond. Best of luck, Yvonne and team!

Vote for Pets of the Homeless as 2025 Westfield Local Hero.