Therapet nonprofit organization based in Tyler, Texas, provides Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) as well as visitation programs to facilitate healing and rehabilitation of patients with acute or chronic diseases. Celebrating 30 years, their Therapet volunteers take specially trained and certified pets to hospitals, schools, prisons, events, libraries, and other organizations to provide motivation, comfort, and inspiration to those in need.
They currently have 70-plus dogs, three cats, and a cockatoo working in their programs. Their goal-oriented therapy brings their well-trained animals to help with such things as patients’ range of motion, strength and endurance, balance and mobility, and sensation. Cognitive and perceptual deficits can also be addressed during sessions.
Facilities served by Therapet include Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital (a partner of Encompass Health), Christus Mother Frances Hospital, UT Health East Texas, and East Texas Crisis Center, with patients from all over Northeast Texas.
Therapet is a 100 percent donor-supported volunteer organization and they receive donations (therapet.org/donate) throughout the year. They also hold an annual fundraiser each fall. This year’s event is the Totally Unleashed Masquerade Gala taking place from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. October 26, at W.T. Brookshire Conference Center in Tyler.
The evening includes live and silent auctions, music by Big Daddy Band, dinner, drinks, and games. To donate to the auctions, become a sponsor, or get tickets, go to the event page (therapet.org/unleased) on their website.
For more information about Therapet, visit their website at www.therapet.org or call (903) 535-2125.