April 2016 – Meet the Team
When did you and Emma become a team? – Emma and I became a team on May 18, 2013 with TASA. We re-evaluated with a complex rating February 21, 2015 with Pet Partners.
What other partners have you had? – Emma is the first pet that I’ve used in therapy visits.
In what type of facility are you visiting? – Currently we visit regularly in two facilities.
1. Bexar Country Family Justice Center – We have been visiting there since July 2013.
2. Ronald McDonald Charity Houses of San Antonio (RMH) – First the Lewis Street House was added to the TASA facilities, followed quickly by the Medical Center RMH in late 2014. In early 2015 I was asked to assume the role as TASA Coordinator to the RMHs. As of today there are 8 TASA teams who have been vetted to visit the facilities. Other teams, who have since relocated, also shared many hours with us. Currently there is a third RMH on the verge of opening under the roof of Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, and also a smaller version at Methodist Hospital. Yet another facility has broken ground in the Medical Center with estimated opening in 2 years.
In what other Therapy Animals activities do you and your partner participate? – Emma and I are StoryTails qualified and love reading with the children. Periodically we visit at the La Vernia Schools with Donna Schweitzer and Bailey. One day, when my time is not so consumed with the RMH facilities, I would love to establish a StoryTails program at a school near my home. We are also Red Cross Volunteers and have enjoyed serving at Christmas Base Events for the past 2 years and a few other Red Cross service events. We have enjoyed doing numerous presentations, doggy parades at multiple nursing facilities, college destressors, and school presentations.
Tell us something about your partner that we may not know. – Emma was born on 1/11/11 and I brought her home from her breeder when she was 12 weeks old. Emma came from a Show breeder, and she was the 5th pup in her litter. I was so fortunate to have her released into my care.
What Therapy Animals leadership position(s) do you currently have? – I am the TASA Coordinator for the Ronald McDonald Houses.
What other leadership positions have you had? – None.
Tell us something about yourself that we may not know. – I have had more than a dozen dogs in my life and as the birthdays roll on, I am realizing that I will not live long enough to have all the dogs that I’d love to own. Before my dog ownership days are over, I would love to have a large dog, probably a standard poodle as a pet and perhaps as a therapy dog.
