Gabriel’s Angels, founded in 2000 by Pam Gaber and her Weimaraner dog, Gabriel, is the only Arizona nonprofit that delivers healing pet therapy to at-risk children. The agency currently is expanding its 225 active volunteer base to serve additional youth, and seeking volunteers both with and without registered pet therapy dogs.

Currently Gabriel’s Angels serves approximately 15,200 at-risk children and is recruiting volunteers for two unique programs. The original Animal Assisted Activities program is where a registered Therapy Team visits with 8-10 kids at a partner agency or Title 1 school twice per month. In addition, Gabriel’s Angels recently added a new Animals, Books and Children (ABC) program. ABC Therapy Teams visits a few select students over a school semester to support reading fluency and build confidence and motivation.

Volunteers are supported through personal training, in-field assistance, and are provided thoughtful materials and activities to share with the children. Volunteer roles include being a registered Therapy Team (a handler and his/her own dog), or a Helping Hand (a volunteer assisting a Therapy Team). Gabriel’s Angels holds monthly Information Sessions to provide a comprehensive overview of the process to become a volunteer.

For more information or to attend an Information Session, visit GabrielsAngels.org or call 602-266-0875.