TWU Pioneer Pet Therapy

Where tails wag, stress melts and students thrive

Our mission is to bring pawsitivity to the TWU community by fostering meaningful interactions with therapy animals to create a compassionate, supportive campus that enhances student well-being through the human-animal bond.

Our teams are registered through Pet Partners online a national nonprofit organization widely recognized as the gold standard in animal-assisted interventions.

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Personal Pet Therapy

Sign up for one 15-minute slot to spend some time with a registered therapy pup! Come by yourself or bring up to four friends (TWU Students only).

See featured events below for available dates. Walk-ins welcome, reservations preferred!

Request Pet Therapy Teams

Want therapy pups at your next event or classroom? Complete our request form and we'll contact you!

"*Note: Pioneer Pet Therapy is only available for visits on the TWU Dallas & Denton campuses or at TWU sanctioned events. For requests outside of TWU, please visit our friends at Pet Partners to set up a visit.

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4,190

volunteer hours

active pups

9,549

students served

Love animals? Love people? Join a team dedicated to bringing comfort and connection. Getting involved with our pet therapy program means contributing to a mission that creates meaningful, restorative moments for those who need them.

MEET THE TEAMS

Pawoneers play a vital role in making each visit safe, smooth and impactful while also counting as community service!

APPLY TO BE A VOLUNTEER

All pet therapy handlers are required to be TWU faculty or staff, successfully complete the Pet Partners online course and evaluation process, as well as TWU specific training.

BECOME A HANDLER

If you’re not able to volunteer your time, a gift of any size can still make a meaningful impact by covering costs associated with training fees or canine vests.

DONATE NOW

Please select: Pioneer Pet Therapy Program Fund

About Us

Humans and animals share a deep, innate connection, and we believe that through the human-animal bond we can improve the physical, social and emotional lives of the TWU community. Pioneer Pet Therapy was launched in the fall of 2021 with 7 volunteer handler teams on the Denton campus and with the help of Oklahoma State’s Pet Therapy Program and Kathy Tomlinson!

To serve as pet therapy handlers, our faculty and staff volunteers have successfully completed the Pet Partners online course and evaluation process, as well as TWU specific training.

Page last updated 5:21 PM, July 21, 2026