About Caring Paws

Caring Paws is a non-profit, tax exempt (501 (c) (3), volunteer organization, who, along with our well trained, DELTA SOCIETY tested animals (dogs, cats, bunnies, etc.) serve the Greater Lafayette, Indiana area. We provide Animal Assited Activities (AAA) to a wide variety of clients.

Some of the facilities we serve: Nursing Homes, Home Hospital Rehab unit, Wabash Valley Mental Health Care, Indiana Veterans Home, Special Ed classes, and a very successful reading program at both area libraries.

Pet Partner Teams...

Provide opportunities for recreational, emotional, motivational, and social benefits. Using properly trained animals, teams are registered with a national organization (Delta Society) through a testing procedure, and can then go into the community to engage in activities that strive to decrease loneliness, improve quality of life, enhance learning, and provide motivation for achieving specific therapeutic goals.

Activities generally include touching and petting the animal and socializing with the handler. Interactions may be conducted individually or in groups. Specific activities include; visiting; going for walks; grooming the animal; playing catch; and reminiscing about their own pets.

To view our policies and procedures, please download this document:
Caring Paws Policies & Procedures.doc

History

A few people who loved their pets had a dream of using these pets as therapy animals. Lucie Levy, DVM, invited those that she knew were interested in the same dream, to have dinner at a local restaurant and discuss the idea. In the late fall of 1999, Caring Paws was born.

 

Megan and therapy dog Dunkin enjoy a nice afternoon. Dunkin has a brother named Eamon who is also a therapy dog.



Angela and therapy dog Dory at the Pets and Vets open house.
Photos - friendly Caring Paws teams visiting library reading programs, schools, nursing homes, and other activities
          CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS
 OTHER PROGRAMS
Andrea and Zeph at Cumberland Elementary School.
 Figaro keeping company at Cumberland Pointe. Figaro visits here every month to enjoy his friends, who recount stories about their past pets to him.
Andrea and Zeph at Earhart Elementary
 All Delta-registered therapy animals are required to wear their Delta ID when they visit. The handler also wears the Delta ID.
The reading program at West Lafayette libraries is always a success.
 Pet partner teams always include the registered animal and his handler. The teams work together to do animal assisted therapy work.
Children read to the registered therapy dogs at the reading programs.
 The bond between handler and animal grows through the process of becoming a therapy animal as both members of the team learn a lot during the process.
Children enjoy picking books that they are sure the animals will love!
 Caring Paws has a booth at many different events. If you see us, stop by, interact with the therapy animals, and ask questions! Here we are at the Pets and Vets Open House.
Seth's therapy team visits very often.
 Learning to be a therapy cat involves some clicker training. Here Figaro and his sister Veronica are being trained to play the piano. Clicker training strengthens the bond between animal & handler.
Visiting schools gives teams a chance to teach to students about proper care of animals and the benefits that enjoying their company can bring.
 The outdoor activities are especially enjoyable for the registered animals and their visitors during warmer months.