Our
Reward
Commitment to Care
Our motto is “spreading smiles one wag at a time,” and our reward is enormous. As we bring joy and delight to the people we meet, we brighten their days and share their pleasure. We may even witness some of those rare, breathtaking moments when our dogs touch the depths of a human heart in a way no human can, moments so poignant they remain etched in memory forever.
Our Cause
High Desert Therapy Dogs, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, dedicates its efforts to providing pet therapy visitation to various facilities, including hospitals, schools, and elderly care centers. Our goal is to recruit more volunteers and dogs to expand our reach and offer pet therapy to a wider range of facilities.
Aussie
Norfolk Terrier/Poodle Mix
Baron
Miniature Schnauzer
Berkeley
Dark Golden Retriever
Biscuit
Papillon
Carli
Beagle
Deacon
Shetland Sheepdog
Diesel
Labrador Retriever
Duke
Boston Terrier
Ella
Labrador Retriever
Faith
English Crème Golden
Fiona
Brittany Spaniel
Frankie
Australian Cattle Dog
Gizmo
Mini Aussie
Harper Lee
Maltese Mix
Hatch
Nederlandse Kooikerhondie
Hope
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Jake
Standard Poodle
Jasper
Scottish Deerhound
Kecil
Goldendoodle
Kronk
Boxer mix
Marvel
Brussels Griffon
Miko
Japanese Chin
Mocha
Fox Terrier
Mollea (Molly)
German Shephard Mix
Molly
Coton de Tulear
Naomi
Japanese Chin
Oliver
Terrier/Poodle
Otto
Corgi/Border Collie Mix
Quincy MD
Black Mouth Cur
Rex
Beagle
Sammy
German Shepherd/Border Collie
Scout
Yellow Labrador Retriever
Shadow
Standard Poodle
Snoopi
Labrador/Dalmatian Mix
Stella
Coton de Tulear
Travis
Jack Russell
Tucker
Golden Doodle
Zephyr
Long-Haired Miniature Dachshund
Our
Values
High Desert Therapy Dogs members as a group adhere to the following core values:
-
share care, compassion, and comfort with each other
-
cultivate and preserve a culture of inclusion and non-discrimination
-
value, respect, support, and trust each other
-
share knowledge and resources generously
-
work together courteously and cooperatively.
If you are interested in joining our team, requesting a visit or want to learn about training your dog for therapy work, these are the folks you will likely meet first. Our organization has many other wonderful volunteers in additional roles as well as many supporting and visiting members and their dogs.
For most of us, our journey with pet therapy began with simply reaching out for more information. Please contact us with any questions you may have.
Get to Know Us, Meet Our Team
Joan Puccini
Director of Training (HDTD)
Joan joined HDTD in 2021 and is pictured here with her Beagle, Carli.
Linni Fletcher
Director of Membership (HDTD)
Linni joined HDTD in 2021 and is pictured here with her Coton de Tulears, Stella and Molly.
Lynette Lord
Director of Visitation (HDTD)
Lynette joined HDTD in 2020 and is pictured here with her Brittany Spaniel, Fiona.
Our Vision. Our Mission. Our Legacy.
All About Our Story
High Desert was founded by seven therapy dog teams in May of 2020. Despite the impact of COVID, by the end of 2022 our membership had increased to 31 visiting members and 6 supporting members. We provided teams to the observation area of Presbyterian Healthcare’s vaccination hub, and in April of 2021 most Presbyterian facilities opened their doors to our teams. The Pride Fest in the summer of 2021 was a great success as a fund raiser.
During the Holidays in 2022, we accompanied Santa Claus to Presbyterian Hospital and Fiesta Park Wellness and Rehabilitation (Avamere) with Girl Scouts Troop #10032.
In March of 2023, we were honored by Albuquerque Business First as one of its 2023 Philanthropy Honorees and received an award at an event on March 23, 2023 at the Sandia Golf Club.