The AIR Dog’s School Therapy Dog program partnered with Hopewell Valley School District last year to train and certify staff dogs. Six therapy dogs teams were certified this summer and they will be working in the district this year – one dog for each school. Watch this video interview with HVRSD Superintentendent Dr. Thomas Smith.…
DetailsBarbara Eget has been a volunteer with Attitudes in Reverse (AIR) nearly since the beginning. Barbara, whose older son has bi-polar disorder, first met Tricia Baker in a support group for mothers of children with mental health concerns. In 2010, Tricia founded AIR to raise awareness about mental health. “I knew I wanted to be…
DetailsAIR Dogs Paws for Minds Volunteer Cathy Szur remembers what inspired her to eventually become part of a pet therapy team. She was visiting her sister in the hospital, when a therapy dog came in. “What a difference it made,” recalled Cathy who has been an AIR Dogs volunteer nearly 2 years. “I just knew…
DetailsAIR is tremendously grateful for ALL of our school contacts who understand the importance of starting conversations of good mental health with their students….and there are many. One example of AIR School partners are the people who work at Brick Township High School. We were able to reach ALL students in all grades during two visits…
DetailsAIR is extremely thankful for all of our volunteers – from the teens who help at various events, our AIR Dogs: Paws for Minds therapy dog teams who visit thousands of people each year, to our board members and advisory board who give their time to help us fulfill our mission. We could not have…
DetailsWith Covid-19 restrictions, all of the in-person school presentations and therapy visits have been on hold for months. However, AIR Dogs: Paws for Minds therapy team Joy Lindo and her dog Willow have found a way to make a difference during these tough times. Joy, an attorney for a New Jersey agency, has been regularly…
DetailsYvonne Quinn had raised Packer from 7 weeks old to become a Seeing Eye dog. However, when he was sent back for his final training at 17 months old, Packer experienced gastrointestinal issues and could not complete his Seeing Eye education. After Yvonne took Packer back home, she decided pet therapy would be a great “career change,”…
DetailsDebbie Linthorst’s introduction to Attitudes in Reverse was during an event at Timberlane Middle School, where AIR Co-Founder Tricia Baker gave a presentation with therapy dogs. “I was really blown away by what AIR does and the support they provide to kids mentally,” said Linthorst, President of the Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education. So…
DetailsChris Turnbull, Principal of Bear Tavern Elementary School, first learned of Attitudes in Reverse and its therapy dogs a few years ago from a staff member. The school then invited AIR to participate in its Wellness Day. AIR Dogs have been visiting the school for special programs ever since. “Tricia would walk down the hallway with…
DetailsDave Sherwin’s first experience with the AIR Dogs: Paws for Minds therapy dogs was during one of their visits to the local high school. “Watching the dogs interact with the high school students before exams and seeing the students smile and light up when they see the dogs,” recalled Dave. “Students of any age really…
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