Registered charity · Bathurst NSW · since 2012

Dogs helping people.

Volunteers and their own dogs bring companionship and wellbeing to hospitals, aged care and classrooms across Australia. Team up with your best buddy and be the reason someone smiles today.

Volunteer with your dog Request a visit

A child hugging a PAWS therapy dog wearing its vest, at an outdoor event

A scruffy PAWS therapy dog grinning up at the camera on its purple lead

Two volunteers greeting a PAWS therapy dog at a shopping centre

Two PAWS volunteers with their therapy dogs at a library visit

A bulldog in its PAWS vest getting a pat on the head outdoors

A joyful PAWS therapy dog giving its handler a lick on the cheek

580+teams trained

62ksmiles a year

14years

Volunteer

Training, uniform, insurance and a placement near you. Eight quick questions to see if you and your dog are a pawsitive match.

Take the quiz →

A hand resting on a PAWS therapy dog during a visit

Receive a visit

Hospitals, aged care, schools, libraries, offices. Insured, police-checked teams, rostered to suit you.

Request a visit →

Hugo, a golden retriever in his PAWS vest, close up

Donate

Like our dogs, donations come in all sizes. Gifts of $2 or more are tax deductible.

Give now

Volunteer with your dog: we need you

Your dog already has the skill. We give you both the training.

We have more people hoping for PAWS visits than we have teams available to reach them. A one-off $275 ($150 deposit up front unlocks the course) covers the course, the assessment day, your uniform, your dog's vest and lead, a backpack full of equipment, insurance and a placement near you. 8 quick questions will let us know if we are a good match.

Take the 8-question quiz How volunteering works

Any breed, any size. We welcome dogs of all shapes, sizes and personalities. We love it when rescue dogs join our team: they have so much love to give. We need our dogs to be friendly and engaging, with a genuine love of people.
One visit a week or fortnight. 1 to 1.5 hours, weekdays, near where you live.
Never alone. If you are training in person, or via Zoom, the office is only a phone call away.

The training and assessment was easily organized, and we love our volunteer days. Highly recommend PAWS.

Shanlee O'Reilly, PAWS volunteer with Billy

Quick facts

PAWS at a glance

A PAWS volunteer and her small fluffy therapy dog visiting a smiling resident in aged care

Offices in Orangeville and BathurstService Australia-wide
$20m public liabilityplus Volunteer Personal Accident Insurance
Visits of 1 to 1.5 hoursrostered to suit your facility
Every team checkedcurrent Police Check and WWCC, vaccination records, vet check
High standards of infection controlon every visit
Tailored programsfor hospitals, aged care, schools and the community

Our promise

Our dogs' welfare is #1

They give so much of themselves. Here's how we look after them.

Dogs Making Lives Better

Therapy, assistance or emotional support dog? Our free fact sheets explain the difference.

See the fact sheets →

In their words

What people say about PAWS

Thank you to staff and dogs for giving my mum joy in her last 3 months of her life. The smile when the dogs would come in took away the pain.

Kay Smith

Charlie the therapy dog from PAWS Pet Therapy is now visiting patients at Westmead once a fortnight, bringing comfort to those going through what can be a challenging and anxious time.

Westmead Private Hospital

My golden retriever, Billy and I have been volunteering with PAWS pet therapy for about 4 years. The training and assessment was easily organized, and we love our volunteer days. Highly recommend PAWS.

Shanlee O'Reilly, PAWS volunteer

Thank you Michelle & Sam-the-dog from PAWS Pet Therapy for another glorious year of reading & friendship!! EVERYONE loves your visits to STT…

St Theresa's Catholic Primary School

I have been receiving chemo at Bowral and you all have made it so much easier for me. Molly and her dad are the best medicine for me. I thank you from my heart xxxx

Gina Fallon, Golden Oldies Animal Rescue

Our seniors loved the chance to cuddle, pat, and play with our furry friend, and for many it was a chance to step down memory lane as a pet owner.

IC Care Picton

When study stress kicks in, sometimes the best support comes with a wagging tail. … Rusty (with handler Vicki) and Casper (with handler Rhonda) were a calm and cuddly presence – and doggone effective at easing nerves

Woollahra Library

They are an exceptional not-for-profit organisation with a structured and professional training and assessment program for the therapy dog teams.

Kathy Windel, PAWS volunteer

Six PAWS therapy dogs, mostly goldens and labradoodles, sitting in a row on the grass

Coming up

Events

All events →

Purple and yellow flowers on a PAWS lunch table

On hold for now

A Dash of Purple

Our fundraising gala. Dress code: a dash of purple.

Every year

Volunteer Appreciation Lunch

The Zep Award for volunteering excellence is presented here each year.

PAWS volunteer Alison kneeling beside Luna, her golden retriever therapy dog

Gallery

See the gallery →

Three PAWS therapy dogs relaxing together indoors

PAWS dogs sitting in a row on a garden wall

Four PAWS volunteers kneeling with their dogs

A PAWS group with their dogs on a grassy hillside

PAWS volunteers relaxing with their dogs on the grass

A golden retriever PAWS dog lying on a blanket in the sun

A golden retriever in a PAWS vest and a yellow lei

A chocolate labrador PAWS dog lying on the grass

A joyful PAWS therapy dog on a visit, getting a treat

Volunteer with your dog

We need you.

Hospitals, aged care homes and schools are asking for more visits than we have teams. If your dog is healthy, loving and engaging with strangers, and you have an hour a fortnight, you are most of the way there.

Become a volunteer Eight questions. Two minutes. No commitment.

With a little help from our friends