Canine Assisted Therapy Inc

Canine Assisted Therapy (C.A.T.) is a South Florida-based nonprofit on a heartfelt mission: to bring comfort, connection, and healing to those who need it most—one wagging tail at a time.

Founded in 2009, C.A.T. is one of the premiere pet therapy organizations and maintains the highest standards possible. We are committed to improving lives through the healing power of the human-animal bond. Our certified volunteer pet therapy teams—made up of trained handlers and their loving dogs—provide free therapy dog visits to more than 70,000 people each year across hospitals, schools, nursing homes, treatment centers, and other human services facilities throughout South Florida’s tri-county area.

Whether it’s calming a child in crisis, easing a patient’s anxiety before surgery, or sparking joy in a lonely senior, our therapy dogs have a remarkable ability to connect in ways words often can’t. They offer a moment of peace, a sense of hope, and a reminder that no one is alone.

Our teams serve a wide range of individuals, including:

• At-risk youth
• Veterans
• People with disabilities
• Hospital patients
• Isolated seniors
• Those facing mental or behavioral health challenges

We are proud to be an AKC-approved organization, upholding the highest standards of safety and professionalism. All therapy dogs are Canine Good Citizen certified and evaluated for obedience and temperament, with advanced evaluations for those working with children. Handlers undergo Level II background screenings, and all volunteers are covered under our liability insurance.

Through our Mental Health and Trauma Response program, C.A.T. is also a trusted responder in times of crisis. After the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, our therapy dogs were deployed to help students and staff begin the healing process, remaining on-site for two years. We were also present at the Broward County Courthouse during the sentencing trial to comfort victims’ families. Following the Surfside condo collapse, our teams supported first responders, offering a quiet moment of relief amid unimaginable stress.

When not responding to disasters, our dogs spend thousands of hours each year working with patients in recovery, seniors in need of companionship, children in foster care, and other populations in need. 

We believe people can develop therapeutic relationships with animals, crossing boundaries of speech and physical disabilities in a way that encourages healing and improved self-esteem. The intricate relationship between humans and animals needs to be considered as an important component in healing trauma, relieving stress, and even helping people live longer healthier lives. Experts in medicine, psychiatry, and veterinary studies agree that animals have the ability to lower blood pressure, prolong survival rates of people with heart disease, and visibly calm us when we are in their presence.

At its core, Canine Assisted Therapy is about community, compassion, and connection, and the belief that sometimes, the best kind of therapy has four legs and a wagging tail.