Therapeutic Paws of Canada

Therapeutic Paws of Canada (TPOC) is a national, volunteer‑based, registered charity that enhances quality of life and well‑being through the animal–human bond. Volunteers and their evaluated therapy dogs or cats provide free pet‑visitation programs to seniors, children, youth, first responders, and community organizations across Canada.

What TPOC Does
TPOC teams bring comfort, connection, and joy through structured visitation programs, including:

🐾Paws With Love to Share™ – Therapy dog and cat visits in senior facilities, hospitals, Alzheimer day programs, and community care settings.

🐾Paws to Read® – A free literacy‑support program where children read aloud to therapy pets to build confidence and fluency.

🐾PAWS Room – Stress‑relief visits for high schools, colleges, universities, and workplaces.

🐾Support Pet Program – Emotional‑support visits for clients of agencies such as the Ministry of the Attorney General and Victim/Witness Assistance Programs.

🐾Paws for Comfort – Support for first responders, shelters, hospices, disaster sites, and crisis‑response situations.

🐾Paws‑Abilities – Programs supporting individuals with mental, physical, emotional, or trauma‑related challenges in partnership with health professionals.

Programs active in schools, hospitals, long‑term care homes, community agencies, and crisis‑response environments

TPOC’s therapy pets help reduce stress, improve communication, lower blood pressure, and enhance emotional well‑being for people of all ages.

🐶 Volunteer Experience
Volunteers join with their own pets, who must pass a temperament and suitability evaluation conducted by trained TPOC evaluators. Once accepted, volunteers become part of a supportive national community with local team leaders and coordinator