[Section][Image src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Picasso-Pets-2024-hero-image.webp" alt="Amanda Summers holds up a Trés Taylor piece during the live auction at Picasso Pets 2024" width="100%"] Hand in Paw's mission is to improve human health and well-being through the healing power of Animal-Assisted Therapy. We train qualified animals and their owners to work as therapy teams in various therapeutic settings. These therapy teams provide emotional comfort, motivation, and positive distraction to people facing emotional and physical challenges. Hand in Paw’s programs serve a wide range of facili ..read more

[Section][Image src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Picasso-Pets-2024-hero-image.webp" alt="Amanda Summers holds up a Trés Taylor piece during the live auction at Picasso Pets 2024" width="100%"] TALES BLOG / Git Along, Little Dogies: Picasso Pets Exceeds Fundraising Goal! [Divider color="grey"][/Divider] The 23rd annual event was a country-western-themed celebration of the wonders of Animal-Assisted Therapy. Picasso Pets, Hand in Paw’s annual gala and live auction, was a great success once again! The Wild Woof West-themed event, held on August 17, 2024, at The Harbert Center brought together ove ..read more

TALES BLOG / So, What Exactly is Animal-Assisted Therapy? As Hand in Paw's new Director of Communications, I'm eager to learn all there is to know about Animal-Assisted Therapy! Before we start, I'd like to properly introduce myself to the Hand in Paw community. I'm Michael Hansen, and I recently joined the HIP team as the Director of Communications. I succeeded Brittany Filby, who held this role for the past six years. Prior to joining HIP, I spent nearly eight years as the Executive Director of GASP, a local nonprofit known as the Greater-Birmingham Alliance to Stop Pollution. I left that po ..read more

TALES BLOG / Cheers to Visiting Seniors & Veterans One of the best things about volunteering with Hand in Paw is that you can improve the lives of people of all ages and backgrounds! From young school-aged children to the elderly in assisted-living homes, Hand in Paw Therapy Teams provide comfort and affection to several vulnerable populations. Last July, Tito’s Handmade Vodka awarded Hand in Paw a generous grant with the purpose of helping to recruit and train Therapy Teams to reach senior citizens and veterans who may be experiencing anxiety and isolation. We are so happy to share that w ..read more

  TALES BLOG /A School's Best Friend HIP Therapy Teams bring comfort and joy to special needs students “Our visits from Harriet and Herbert are the highlight of our month!” declares Sarah Fischer, MA, a special education teacher at Mountain Brook Junior High. Hand in Paw Therapy Team Harriet and Herbert have been visiting Mrs. Ficher’s classroom for the past year as part of our School’s Best Friend program. We visit students who have physical and developmental disabilities. Working directly with schools and educators, we tailor our services for each class. Depending on the students’ need ..read more

TALES BLOG / Pawsitively Athletic: Mrs. Terry's Happy Tails A partnership between Terry Saban and Hand in Paw brings stress relief to UA Student Athletes – all thanks to you! Picture this: You’re a college athlete for one of the top-rated athletic programs in the country. You’re on scholarship, so in addition to staying on top of your game in the field, your grades must also remain high. Sounds stressful, right? That’s where Hand in Paw says, “bring in the dogs!” Thanks to your incredible support, Hand in Paw has officially partnered with the University of Alabama Athletics Department to creat ..read more

TALES BLOG / A New Chapter in Healing HIP Therapy Teams are now providing stress relief to families in the courthouse and first responders – all thanks to you! We are excited to share that thanks to YOU, Hand in Paw Therapy Teams are now making therapeutic visits at the Family Court of Jefferson County! These visits are a part of a brand-new program called “Paws on the Court”, where our teams provide comfort to families and children involved in difficult family litigation. We provide these visits in honor of the late Judge Sandra Storm. This program that has been a dream at Hand in Paw for man ..read more

TALES BLOG /Embarking on a New Adventure: A Farewell Letter from Brittany Filby   Friends of Hand in Paw, After six incredible years serving as Hand in Paw's Director of Communications, the time has come for me to embark on a new adventure. I am thrilled to announce that I will be stepping away from my role at Hand in Paw to embrace a brand-new job title: Mother. This decision was not made lightly, but I am excited for the journey ahead and the opportunity to welcome a new addition to my family. During my tenure of creating Hand in Paw’s communications, design, and branding, I have learn ..read more

TALES BLOG /3 Ways to Volunteer This Spring Happy March! This month, leading to spring, we want to showcase some of the best ways to get involved in your community. What is a better way to welcome a new season than being active and helping out!     Getting involved in local education programs is a great way to make a positive impact in your community. By volunteering in schools or after-school programs, you’ll help foster learning and growth among students, ultimately shaping a brighter future for all. At Hand in Paw, our Therapy Teams visit local schools every week in the Greater B ..read more

TALES BLOG /February: An All-Heart Month Written by Margaret Stinnett, Executive Director Welcome February, you short, weather-harsh but all-heart month!   February is the month of love. I hope you had the opportunity to see the “Wear Red Day” photographs that Hand in Paw posted on social media in collaboration with the American Heart Association of Alabama. These adorable photographs of HIP therapy animals (and my little rescue Audrey) wearing red attire are a joyful way to share something that is a serious topic – women’s heart health.     At the risk of oversharing, I have ..read more