Paws for People Earns Special Designation

Tufts Paws for People, an animal visitation group that provides comfort to elder care residents, disadvantaged youths and schoolchildren while they learn to read, is now an official Pet Partners affiliate of the Delta Society.

The designation allows Paws for People to conduct animal visitation, training, and certification under the official auspices of the Delta Society, a national non-profit dedicated to animal-assisted therapy. Paws for People members are insured and registered by the organization.

Founded in 2006 by Shrewsbury resident Harue Midtmoen, Paws for People was adopted by the l in 2009 when the school formed a steering committee for the group. With more than 150 people having gone through training, the group includes dogs, cats, and even miniature horses to provide animal-assisted visitation throughout the region.

Paws for People volunteers and their animal partner visit nursing homes, hospitals, and homes for troubled youth. In addition, the group trains dogs for the Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D) program, in which children who struggle with reading improve their skills by reading aloud to dogs.

The group also hosts workshops, trainings and certifications for owners interested in their pets becoming Delta Society-registered visitation teams.

Paws for People’s home at New England’s only veterinary school is a logical fit, says Lisa Freeman, DVM, PhD, professor of clinical sciences at the Cummings School and the group’s faculty advisor.

“Throughout its history, the Cummings School has studied the many different roles of animals in society, and Paws for People is a logical extension of the school’s commitment to active citizenship in the community,” Freeman said in a prepared statement. 

The Tufts group’s goal is to double its membership and site visits within five years, as well as increase the involvement of veterinary students and publish evidence-based research on the benefits of pet visitation.