Heart of Texas Therapy Dogs is a local group, comprised of Alliance of Therapy Dogs, our national organization, members. We are a non-profit 501(c)(3), all volunteer organization that services the DFW area with therapy dogs. Therapy comes in many different forms, for many different people, for many different reasons. Therapy dogs provide a type of therapy that is different than almost anything else. They provide a sense of comfort, peace, patience, ease, love, and provide all of this…especially, during times of crisis.

Currently, we have over 150 members with dogs in the Dallas/Ft Worth area. We have 70+ facilities that are on our monthly calendar for members to visit. You may start at a new facility or jump in with an existing team. Each of our facilities have a team lead who is more than eager to help get you started. Our goal is to get you serving somewhere that you and your dog are needed most! Please note that some facilities may have additional requirements for their volunteers, such as hospitals and airports.

We have 4 social events each year to get you connected with other therapy dog handlers, too. Two of the socials are outdoor events where our therapy dogs are welcome and do not have to be in “work mode” (maintaining the 2 foot rule). It’s great fun where everyone can enjoy each other’s company! The other two socials are for the handlers only (no dogs are permitted). This allows the handlers more “space” to get to know each other without needing to worry about the dogs. These socials usually occur indoors somewhere.

We hope you will consider joining us! To learn how, review the guidelines on the Volunteer page. Our organization greatly values the camaraderie we share, as we work together, to bring joy and smiles to people of all ages!

History

The Heart of Texas Therapy Dog group was founded in 2003 by Sheryll Barker and Barbara Wilson. It is made up of registered teams from the national group, Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD).

Barbara Wilson had been volunteering with the Richardson Humane Society. She had heavily researched the field of pet therapy and provided the screening for this group. She then had an idea that some of the volunteers with this group might be interested in visiting assisted living residents, too. Martha Duke, Deb Bosco, Martha Denton and Dave Nichols, along with their therapy dogs, jumped on this idea. Barbara contacted Appletree in Richardson and they were more than willing to try this out. It turned into a huge success! The residents and staff loved having the therapy dogs visit. The group began visiting on Sunday afternoons. Much to the disappointment of the therapy teams, the visits had to be discontinued since Richardson Humane Society’s insurance would no longer cover this. That’s when Barbara began searching for ways for the visits to continue.

Sheryll had been a member of Therapy Dogs Inc. (“TDInc.”, now renamed the Alliance of Therapy Dogs) since 1993. She had served as president of a local therapy dog group in Albuquerque, NM, from 1995 through 1997. Sheryll moved to Dallas, TX, in 1998 and became a TDInc Tester/Observer shortly thereafter. She had been volunteering with a small number of registered therapy dog teams when she met Barbara. The two met in 2002 and immediately became fast friends.

Sheryll helped Barbara become registered with Therapy Dogs Inc. shortly after they met.  Barbara then arranged for Sheryll to help register all of the teams from the Richardson Humane Society group with Therapy Dogs Inc. 

By May, 2003, it was clear that this group of volunteers needed to establish their own identity.  The last straw was when two agencies publicly argued over to whom the volunteers “belonged”, at which point Barbara and Sheryll agreed that the TDInc members belonged to no one but themselves.  In June, 2003, they called a meeting of Therapy Dogs Inc. members in Barbara’s living room and “Heart of Texas Therapy Dogs” was born.  There were 24 original members when the group was created. And that is the history of the Heart of Texas Therapy Dogs!

Board members

For inquiries or special event requests, email: Sheryll Barker

President: Sheryll Barker, serving since 2019

VP of Activities / Facilities: Diane Gossett, serving since 2016

VP of Membership: Joni Coble, serving since 2018

VP of Communications: Cyndi Daugherty, serving since 2018

Secretary: Micki Jenkins, serving since 2018

Treasurer: Angela Jones, serving since 2023

For technical inquiries only: Webmaster