Read the latest positive news, breakthroughs, and inspiring stories about therapy dogs, curated daily by BrightWire.
For a decade, certified therapy dogs have been greeting stressed travelers at Sacramento International Airport, offering furry comfort when people need it most. The volunteer program now needs more four-legged recruits to meet growing demand.
A volunteer-run therapy dog program in Hong Kong is so popular it's fully booked for the next 16 months, bringing joy to schools, hospitals, and elderly homes across the city. Just one staff member and 65 volunteers are meeting overwhelming demand from communities craving connection with furry healers.
Elmhurst Hospital in Queens just welcomed Weasley, a professionally trained therapy dog who will help patients in the behavioral health unit heal through cuddles, comfort, and connection. The two-year-old Lab-Retriever mix is already making a difference for people working through anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges.
A labradoodle named Zeki persistently sniffed Karen Daggett's armpit during a family vacation, leading her to discover three cancerous growths that doctors caught early enough to treat successfully. The 74-year-old is now cancer-free thanks to her granddaughter's therapy dog and quick medical action.
A college student who beat bone cancer at age 8 discovered a therapy dog on campus named Isabella—after her. The reunion brought together a story that started in a hospital and came full circle years later.
A dog once rejected for being "too chill" now helps firefighters process trauma at Iowa's fourth-largest fire department. Kooper the therapy dog is tackling the mental health crisis among first responders one station visit at a time.
A deaf Pitbull named Cole sits at a New Jersey school each day with a sign reading "Can I Please Have a Hug?" and helps students learn that being different makes you special. His work has expanded to four therapy dogs and earned him ASPCA's 2023 National Dog of the Year.
A new Dunkin' in Harlem, Georgia is celebrating its grand opening by donating $20,000 to help a therapy dog comfort sick children at a local hospital. The first 100 customers also score free coffee for 100 days.
Gracie, a therapy dog who comforts special education students, survived a life-threatening fungal infection and became the first patient in a clinical trial that could revolutionize treatment. Her journey from near-death to medical pioneer shows how one small dog is helping others of her species.
Three therapy dogs are helping elite swimmers calm their nerves at Australia's national championships, and the results are remarkable. Athletes are swimming personal bests after a quick cuddle before hitting the blocks.
Golden retrievers and labradors are comforting crime victims through the scary courthouse experience in Orange, Australia. The program's success has handlers asking for more volunteers to meet growing demand.
After a car accident left her with chronic pain, Annette Lumbis discovered therapy dogs could help and founded Magical Paws. Now she leads 50+ volunteers bringing healing paws to nursing homes and schools across Sudbury.