The Humane Hearts Therapy Program enriches the lives of individuals and special groups throughout our community by providing compassionate and supportive interactions with therapy animals. Our dedicated volunteer teams consisting of caring pet handlers and their trained therapy animals deliver emotional comfort, companionship, and unconditional love to people of all ages.

In 2024, our Humane Hearts Therapy Teams proudly completed over 1,000 visits across Forsyth, Dawson, Gwinnett, and Fulton Counties, positively impacting countless lives.
Our programs include visits and partnerships with:
• Assisted living facilities
• Adult Special Needs Programs
• “Paws to Read” sessions at Forsyth County Libraries and “Stress Pups” events, providing emotional support during midterms and finals
• Special Education classrooms and “Reading to the Dogs” programs in 10 Elementary, 3 Middle, and 5 High Schools
• Homeless Pet Clubs in local schools
• Local Hospice care providers
• Encompass Rehabilitation Hospital

We currently have 60 dedicated volunteer teams, and we continue to grow and expand our outreach.

Feedback from a local school counselor highlights our impact:
“Please let the team know that some of our special education students who communicate very little have started actively seeking out the dogs and clearly saying ‘doggy’—this is huge! Additionally, some general education students have expressed, ‘I love the days when Ruger comes—it makes me want to get up and come to school!'”

For more information on joining our team, scheduling visits, or learning more about our programs, contact us at humane.hearts@forsythpets.org. Be sure to follow our adventures and impact stories on Facebook!