Angel Paws Animal Assisted Activities & Therapy (AAA/T) was founded in 2003 by Patti Shanaberg.  After years of working in the entertainment & public relations industries following an equestrienne accident that severed her spinal cord in 1977, Shanaberg served as a Registered Delta Society Pet Partner® with her therapy dog Samantha (since 1999) in a variety of Health Care settings in Los Angeles, California including Santa Monica U.C.L.A Medical Center, West Los Angeles Veterans Hospital and Ronald McDonald House. 

After relocating to Newark, Ohio in 2001 Shanaberg discovered that there were no organized (AAA/T) programs in the area.  Necessity being the mother of invention, Shanaberg began the extensive research and development process of laying the foundation for Angel Paws.  “It’s been a privilege to bring the top quality standards of Delta Society Pet Partners® and Reading Education Assistance Dogs® (R.E.A.D.®) to Licking County and to introduce the many rewards of AAA/T to such a diverse group of dedicated volunteers here – a true labor of love,” says Shanaberg.  “I think our volunteers really enjoy spending quality time with their pets while serving others and networking with other animal lovers.”

 In 2003 Angel Paws AAA/T was incorporated as an Ohio Nonprofit organization with federal Public Charity 501(c) 3 tax-exempt status and Delta Society Pet Partners® affiliate group status both granted in 2004.  Angel Paws’  initial health care visitation programs were  implemented at Shepherd Hill Behavioral Health, a Department of Licking Memorial Hospital; Autumn Health Care; and Flint Ridge Nursing & Rehabilitation. 

In 2005 Angel Paws earned Reading Education Assistance Dogs® (R.E.A.D.®) affiliate group status and implemented it’s first literacy mentoring program at Kairos Academy for students with dyslexia and other learning differences in Newark in July of 2005.  “Puppy Tales” with Angel Paws/R.E.A.D.® debuted at Newark Public Library in March of 2006.  Shanaberg also received a scholarship to attended Intermountain Therapy Animal’s first Reading Rendezvous R.E.A.D.® conference in Salt Lake City, Utah where she completed ITA’s first R.E.A.D.® Instructors Training course.

“Lil Puppy Tales” with Angel Paws/R.E.A.D. also accepted an invitation to become the official sponsor of Indian Mound Mall’s “Lil Planet Kid” program for pre-school aged children in March of 2006 when Angel Paws also added Hospice of Central Ohio and The Center for New Beginnings Domestic Violence Shelter, a Program of The Woodlands to it’s list of Health Care Visitation programs.

“Quality over quantity is our commitment” says Shanaberg, “Angel Paws offers facilities the administrative quality and structure of carefully planned and implemented in-house programs without the in-house burden on limited resources.  We look forward to serving more facilities on our waiting list as our base of qualified volunteers continue to grow.”

A multidisciplinary volunteer governing Board of professionals and advisors from related fields oversees and approves all policies, procedures and activities of the organization.

Local businesses who have offered support to Angel Paws via discounts and other in-kind contributions include All Creatures Animal Hospital, The Advantage Club, Complete Petmart, the Dog Cabin and McNally Training and Day Care.  The organizations primary community fundraiser to date, Santa Paws Pet Portraits, has been sponsored by Complete Petmart, Inc., Nutro Pet Products, Iams and most recently Wilson's Garden Center & Taste of Wild.

Tax-deductible contributions and in-kind donations to the organization are gratefully accepted.  For more information on how to help Angel Paws bring the therapeutic benefits of interaction with animals to more adults and children in our community please contact us &/or see our donations page.