Our Mission

Irish Therapy Dogs mission is to provide physical, therapeutic and educational benefit to people – young and old - in hospitals, nursing homes, day care centres, schools and other places where people may be restricted from having pets and where the presence of dogs, and their handlers, will add comfort and support.

This is Irish Therapy Dog Mala who with his owner Finola Kenny visits the Day Care Centre at St. John of God, Menni Services to bring his special therapy to the guests there.
Click here to see an audio slideshow of Mala visiting.
(Photograph by Frank Miller, courtesy of the Irish Times.)

Presentation of painting of Irish Therapy Dog "Sue" by the artist Paddy Griffiths, a member of CRC Firhouse Day Activity Centre to volunteer Graham Horgan. Sue, who passed away in June 2011 had been a long term therapy dog visitor to the Centre and is sadly missed. Paddy painted the picture in her memory and in gratitude for the happiness she had brought to all in the Centre over the years.
(Photograph courtesy of Breda Gavagan, Manager, CRC Firhouse Day Activity Centre)

Capture The Spirit of Volunteering
First prize winner in the 2010 photographic competition by Dunlaoghaire Rathdown Volunteer Centre in conjunction with Dunlaoghaire Rathdown County Council.
Irish Therapy Dogs Visiting Team Sally McCaffrey and Shako along with junior members Sarah and Tom visiting Glebe House. (Photograph courtesy of Steve Whiteside.)

At the 2011 Irish Therapy Dogs Volunteers Meeting the guest speakers were CHAI Director, Dr. Sandra Barker and Executive Committee Member, Dr. Randolph Barker from the Centre for Human-Animal Interaction, Virginia Commonwealth University (www.chai.vcu.edu/) here pictured with Graham Horgan, Secretary, Brenda Rickard, Chief Executive and Brian O'Sullivan, Chairman of Irish Therapy Dogs and our canine ambassador, therapy dog Willow.

Presentation of painting of Therapy Dog "Niu Niu" by the artist, Claire Ferrari (right) to Volunteer Irene Nealon who was the winner of our annual draw.

Therapy Dog Gilly meets the Liam McCarthy Cup Valerie O'Malley and her Therapy Dog Gilley got a great surprise on their weekly visit to Padre Pio Nursing Home, Holycross, Thurles, Co. Tipperary when members of the Tipperary team that won the All Ireland Hurling Championship in September 2010 paid a visit with the Liam McCarthy Cup. Pictured with Gilly is Nursing Home resident Rita Cahill.

Irish Therapy Dogs, Company No. 464658, Registered Office --- c/o St. Mary’s Centre (Telford) Ltd., 185-201 Merrion Rd., Dublin 4, CHY No. 18715