Thank YOU so much for your generosity with providing a grant for CCPT for my classroom this school year! Each month I designed special projects and incorporated the skills we were currently learning in the classroom.

For April (national Poetry Month and also Earth Day) we wrote Earth Day Haiku poetry and we also incorporated some fun haiku poems especially for our furry friends – Motzi and Fauci!

For our May visit, I created a problem-based learning task for my students to complete for our May visit with Fauci/Mrs. Ruth and Motzi/Mrs. Cindy! We first had a class discussion about summer vacation plans and many students shared that they were going to camp. I was excited to hear about this as I presented with them a problem we must help to solve! – There aren’t enough summer camps for dogs and we must help!! Their task was to create a camp brochure including a title for their camp, a daily schedule, a snack/lunch menu and write a brief persuasive paragraph all about the benefits of signing up for their camp!

The students quickly became engaged as they began working on their brochures for a summer camp that they created just for dogs! My first graders had SO much fun creating brochures for their own Summer Camp for Dogs! They planned and wrote a schedule of daily events, a lunch & snack menu, and they wrote a short paragraph using their opinion writing skills they learned this school year! All of my students did such a wonderful job on their completed brochures! I attached some pictures for you to view!

Thank you again for helping me with this incredible opportunity this school year!!

My students expressed that they feel……

happy, calm, warm, cuddly, excited to be in school, cozy and comfortable, fluffy and makes me feel extra kind inside, when Fauci and Motzi visit us! They are also extremely motivated to complete their projects, writing or assignments on the days that they know Motzi/Fauci are visiting!

Pet therapy has been a truly invaluable addition to our therapeutic programming. The presence of Creature Comfort ’s therapy dogs brings a unique, calming energy that fosters a safe and welcoming environment—one that often breaks through even the toughest barriers to engagement. Witnessing the genuine smiles and moments of relief on the faces of those we support is the most rewarding part of my day when our “fur therapists” are on site.

One especially memorable instance involved an adolescent client battling intense social anxiety. On one particularly difficult day, the client was so overwhelmed that they could barely enter the building and remained completely nonverbal. However, the gentle, reassuring presence of the therapy dog made all the difference. Sitting quietly beside the animal, the client began to visibly relax. With time and trust, they not only were able to remain in the group space but also shared a few words—an incredible step forward considering the distress they were experiencing.

Moments like these remind us of the subtle yet powerful role pet therapy plays in emotional healing. Creature Comfort’s therapy dogs are more than companions; they are bridges to connection, relaxation, and confidence.

It’s been a seamless experience working with Creature Comfort. The dog owners are so professional and engaging with the patients. The dogs bring so much joy and comfort to our patients.

The patients are have a greater sense of calm, comfort and ease –a big smile- making it a better day! The difference the dogs make every time they visit the cancer centers is inspiring!

I can’t say enough about the staff at Summit medical. They are so kind and caring and my visits with them are so appreciated. When I am receiving chemo their comfort cart will bring a smile to my face to get a piece of chocolate and a great conversation from the volunteers. They are kind enough to listen when I am having a rough day. One of my favorite services is the therapy dogs, it brings me so much joy to pet those wonderful animals and for a few minutes forget about the Cancer. Most important last year I was in financial trouble where I needed to pay my taxes, Summit medial gave me a grant which eased a burden I had. I hope to receive grant again. I can’t say enough about this group of people.

Pet therapy is a very carefree way to interact with patients.

Having Pet Therapy has undeniably added so much joy to our cancer centers. I was so fortunate to have Pet Therapy in our resource center for the afternoon. The room quickly transformed into “the Hub” where everyone gathered. We had all four dogs coming in and out: Daisy, Coby, Oreo, and Bruno. Families, children, doctors and health staff were connecting with the dogs and each other. The room filled with laughter and excitement, and of course the ooos and ahhhs over these amazing dogs and their ability to connect everyone. There is no substitute for the comfort and familiarity that people feel when connecting with a pet. This is a gift to our patients, so they may have a little piece of home or just that comforting feeling of a furry friend.

After a little girl read to Bear, the dad peeked his head in to thank us for doing this. He explained his daughter has dyslexia and doesn’t like to read, and he was so happy to find an opportunity where she can actually get excited about reading.

Creature Comfort Pet Therapy days at the Metuchen Public Library are treasured, special days for staff and patrons alike! Families with children of all ages and reading abilities absolutely love to visit with Niles and Sarge! Joanne Markano sets the tone for a welcoming, safe, and enriching experience with each and every family. Even the shyest, most unsure reader quickly feels comfortable reading aloud to them.

Sarge observes closely and is a very calm listener as children read to him. Niles waves his tail constantly and shares his wide smile and friendliness with everyone.

It is remarkable to see how quickly the environment transforms into a dynamic, cozy learning space once Sarge or Niles are at the heart of it! Thank you, Creature Comfort, for being a part of our lives!

These monthly visits were the highlight of our month!! I feel blessed to have had the chance to work with Cindy/Motzi & Ruth/Fauci!! My class shared that they felt excited about reading when we had our pup friends visiting! All of my students shared that they felt calm and happy while reading to Motzi and Fauci!

CCPT is a truly wonderful organization, and I’m so glad to have found them! I worked with the team at CCPT to arrange monthly therapy dog visits at my law firm, as a way to allow our attorneys and staff to decompress from our stressful jobs. The process of arranging visits was easy, and the visits have been fabulous! CCPT sends teams of handlers and dogs, and we have set aside a conference room with a table and some bean bag chairs, where once a month you can find anyone from file clerks to senior partners cuddling with the dogs. The owner/handlers have been very professional and kind, and the dogs have all been well-trained and sweet. A few minutes with them does absolute wonders for everyone’s mood and stress level, and I love seeing my colleagues emerge from the pup visiting room with huge smiles on their faces. Thank you CCPT!

Our clients immediately have a smile on their face when they see the creature comfort therapy dogs walk through the door. It is so easy to work with Creature comfort who schedule wonderful dogs and their owners to bring joy, puppy love and education. They are very reliable and on top of everything. They keep us posted on what & who to expect during our visit. We are happy to be able to work together and bring pet therapy into our social adult day center. Thank you!

We are so delighted to have Creature Comfort visiting our facilities. Pet therapy is so beneficial for those going through treatment for substance use. You are all a blessing to our clients. Thank you.

We are proud to sponsor Creature Comfort for providing pet therapy services. Visits are enjoyed by both the pets visiting and the people being visited!

I LOVE pet therapy because of all of the wonderful and kind people I have met through this organization. Everyone is warm and welcoming to both Ziggy and me and it’s a great feeling to know I am making a difference in people’s lives.

George did great. Those kids really had a good time petting and hugging him. As part of their therapy they had been told to whisper whatever they wanted to the dog and now George has a ton of secrets. It was a little emotional for me given the circumstances.

Because I have learned to be a better person: I learn from the stories I hear from both staff and clients, I appreciate the silent moments of tenderness and I cherish the occasional tears mixed with grateful laughter.

One of my fondest memories took place at a library. A young child, hesitant and shy, was learning to read. Initially, he was nervous, but Novi’s calming energy helped him feel at ease. Before long, he was reading aloud to her, his confidence growing with every word. The gratitude from the child’s parent was a reminder of the power of these moments. It’s incredible how the presence of a gentle, loving therapy dog can open doors to connection and growth in ways we never imagine.

I can’t tell you how rewarding this has been for me and how it has changed my therapy animal, Westley‘s, behavior. When he meets someone now, he just sits right in front of them. He loves getting hugs and for me it’s so rewarding to see how people react to him and how happy he makes everybody he meets. I’m so glad we became a therapy team.

The ability to be in the moment with a happy puppy, and forget the stress, sadness and illness around you – even if just for a few minutes.

I love pet therapy because in my previous work career, I had worked in a nursing home, and I saw first-hand the joy these pets bring to people. The feeling of bringing someone some joy, to forget their illness or problems, even for a few moments, is priceless to me.

The reason why I love pet therapy is connecting with people and hearing how much my animals have made an impact on someone’s day. Many times I’m told someone is having a bad day or a student tells me they have a test or exam later that day that just spending a few minutes with Snickers has calmed them down enough to focus on the test or exam. A lot of times students are like, “I wish I could bring Snickers to class with me to help me get through the test.

I had a stroke patient who had severe expressive aphasia and complete inability to speak. He had been with us several weeks, when we brought Larry, the beautiful black lab pet therapy dog up onto our unit. He spent several minutes petting Larry with his remaining functional arm, and then much to our amazement, said clear as day, “Good dog!”. That patient incredibly went on to become the president of our stroke support group, and a statewide speaker on stroke symptoms and care.

I love receiving warm reactions from people of all ages in any circumstances. You can feel how a simple interaction with a dog can immediately change people’s mood. To my question ‘do you feel cured?’ I always receive a confirming answer, ‘absolutely yes!

I love pet therapy because I get to share the animals that bring me joy with other people. I get to hear their stories about their current and former pets, talk about different breeds and just have an easy conversation with folks I have never met.

For me, pet therapy combines my love of animals (in this case dogs!) and my medical background as a nurse. Chester, my current therapy team partner, is my 4th therapy dog. I never tire of the joy these wonderful creatures bring to all sorts of people from patients to staff, to visitors, to school children etc. I have seen my dogs elicit positive responses from people who had been either despondent or in pain, and even gently convince a dog-phobic nurse to risk petting my therapy dog, Ella. I think I benefit as much as the people we see, the deep satisfaction of providing cold noses warming hearts is priceless.

This is one of the best ways to keep my heart glowing with light and love. No matter what is going on in my own life, a visit with Star reminds me of how just the simple act of caring and connection with others is more meaningful than anything bought in a store. It has been amazing to see how people light up when they see Star and how great I feel when I leave – no matter how I may have felt prior.

Hope and I were on the Gagnon CCU Unit. The patient had all sorts of medical equipment helping him breathe etc. His family was with him. I lifted Hope up and Hope licked his hand. The family took his hand and stroked Hope’s head. There was no visible evidence that the man was aware of what was going on. The next week I walked into Gagnon A regular room. To be greeted with a cheerful, “that’s Hope” It was the same man. He remembered our visit from the previous week and told me how much he enjoyed it.

My husband and I now have an expression which is, “Don’t use the “V” word unless we are about to leave the house for a CCPT visit.” When Ollie hears the word “visit, ” she perks up, prances throughout the house like a gazelle, and then rolls around the floor with some peculiar sounds. She is glued to my side until we get in the car! Every morning, Ollie gives me an inquisitive look as if she is asking me if we will be doing a CCPT visit. Honestly, these visits are the high point of her day. While she loves to go on walks, be petted, and play with toys, balls, and us, Ollie’s favorite activity is definitely the CCPT visits. On the visits, we often hear the following words of thanks: “You’ve made my day!” or “You’ve made my week!” or “You’ve made my month!” All Ollie and I can say now about the people we have visited so far is, you’ve made our year!

CCPT has given Ruby and me greater purpose in our community. We benefit as much if not more than the people we serve. CCPT is an extended family with a common mission to serve others — we are grateful to have found you!

Oliver and I love our pet therapy visits; whether we visit the hospital, a school, or a library the interactions we have leave us feeling so happy and rewarded. We feel so fortunate to be part of the CCPT team of volunteers.

Doing Pet Therapy with Havana has been unbelievably rewarding. I love how excited she gets when I pull out her vest and tell her we are going to the hospital. The response from the kids, their parents and everyone we meet while walking through the halls brings us both great fulfillment. You can see the impact the dogs have, it’s a glimmer of light and hope for the patients. It’s honestly a privilege to be a part of Creature Comfort and have the ability to serve people in this special way.

I am so grateful to have the opportunity to volunteer with my golden Elsa. Our work has brought us to places and the chance to meet so many wonderful people.

Beau and I began our pet therapy visits this year. It has been an experience that is difficult to put words to. Our first visit with a mentor team was a perfect launch into our solo visits. It gave me the confidence I needed! Several visits come to mind as I reflect. One was a gentleman who, with tears in his eyes, thanked Beau as he held Beau’s head, for going through the training to bring him to him. He looked at me and thanked me too. I will never forget that gentleman or that day.

When I say to Cody, we are going to “work”, his ears perk up, he leaps off the couch and almost flies to the door. He simply cannot wait to jump in the car and go to “work” for CCPT. I feel the therapy begin when I see the wide-eyed, huge smiled students, teachers, faculty members, patients, nurses, staff members, of all ages, as they see Cody. Cody lights up a hallway, a classroom, a waiting area, or a community room, but the true magic happens when he connects with so many of the amazing individuals we’ve met through CCPT. They embrace him, read to him, snuggle with him, take pictures of him and for a brief time in their day, the noise stops. The power of pet therapy is captivating and undeniable. Cody has calmed children out of tantrums so they could rejoin their class, he’s soothed teenagers as they lay by the side of their ailing grandparents and he’s brought smiles to patients I have been told haven’t smiled in 6 months! And, I think it’s equally as rewarding for Cody too. Cody was a stray and homeless dog and I think he receives as much love from the amazing people we visit as he gives to them. The truth is, I smile bigger and brighter on those days too.

I’m so glad that our Library can partner with Creature Comfort Pet Therapy. It’s a great opportunity for our young patrons to read aloud in a comfortable, non-judgmental setting. And cuddling with the dogs is an added bonus!

Having the dogs on campus during finals is always such a pleasant surprise! When students are typically all cooped up, studying fiercely in their dorm rooms or the library, it’s nice to catch some fresh air and play with a friendly pooch. There’s something about the energy of a playful dog that can always bring out a giddy inner-child in all of us, taking us to a place where stress does not prevail!

The residents are very happy to see the animals. The handlers are extremely kind to our seniors, resulting in a great experience. The dogs’ visits are the best therapy the residents’ experience.

We had a visit from five wonderful volunteers and their dogs yesterday here at Alexander Library of Rutgers University, New Brunswick. This is a crazy time of year for the students and also the faculty and staff at Rutgers. It is great to see them take a break from everything and just enjoy some downtime with the volunteers and their dogs. I heard them asking about the dogs – the name and breed – while sharing information about their pets at home and of course getting in some good puppy loving during the conversation! All who stopped by left relaxed with a smile on their faces ready to tackle the exams and papers to come. Thanks to your organization and the volunteers for taking their time to come and sit with our students!

Senior Home Care Services has been proud to sponsor Creature Comfort Pet Therapy visits! Our team members who are able to participate in the visits, look forward to them and rave about how uplifting it is to see the joy in seniors’ eyes and smiles when they visit with a Pet Therapy dog. It is a wonderful experience for both the seniors and our team members!

We love having visits from Creature Comfort at our school. The animals are wonderful as well as their handlers. Each visit makes not only the students smile but the staff as well. Looking forward to more visits in the future.

We established our relationship with CCPT about 3 years ago and I’ve enjoyed watching that partnership grow. The volunteers and their humans have been great with our children. Our members of all ages look forward to their visits. It’s been great seeing our shy, quiet members interact with the animals and each other during the visits. I look forward to continuing to work with CCPT in the future.

The residents at Brookdale Florham Park eagerly await the visit each week from Creature Comfort. Some residents have their favorite dogs, while others love them all. We especially love when we have two or three dogs visit at one time. Many owners and their dogs stay to join us with our word game and we have a great time together. It is nice to see the residents become close to the owners and the dogs.

It is with great pleasure that I write to say what a wonderful experience we had when Lucy (the dog) and her “parents” came to visit Irwin Elementary School. We asked Lucy to come and visit our school as part of our character education program “The Road to Success”. As Lucy visits hospitals, nursing homes, and schools, she was a great catalyst to talk about compassion towards those who may be different from ourselves or in need of comfort. I can assure you that the visit was an unbridled success! The children LOVED meeting Lucy and the Grossmans, and in several cases, her presence at our school provided well-needed comfort to some of our at-risk students and even helped a few students who were previously afraid of dogs to become more comfortable around them. We highly recommend your services and thank you so much for coming to our school.

My mom suffered and passed away at Morristown Hospital this year. My dad died, and that gave my mom a heart attack or two, and she passed away 80 days later. Crying as I write this, I want you to know her only pure relief was being visited by the dogs from Creature Comfort. I specifically remember the visit from Kevin. My mom burst into tears as Kevin was placed in her arms and she looked forward to the visits and talked about them afterward. I can’t think of the other dogs’ names now. It was the only relief she had during her ordeal.

Pet Therapy has been a part of our DeStress Fest for Fall and Spring semesters for the past decade and the students absolutely love it!