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Therapy Animal Stars
We are a group of dedicated volunteers who are passionate about therapy animal services and benefits they bring to individuals in our communities.

Who We Are
Our Story
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Leaving Paw Prints
A therapy animal is a specially trained animal that partners with its human handler to volunteer at a variety of facilities and events, bringing joy, comfort, and companionship to those they meet.

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What is a Therapy Animal?
Who Uses Therapy Animal Services?
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Therapy Animal Tales
Read about the great work our teams are doing out in the field and stay up to date on what's happening with the North Star Therapy Animals organization.

Have a great story to share? Send us a note and let us know!

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WANTED! More Teams
We are looking for more therapy animal teams to join us. If you are interested in forming wonderful friendships, making treasured memories & finding personal fulfillment then you are in the right place!

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We'd love to visit!
Invite us over to bring happiness, companionship and courage to the people you work with.

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Membership has benefits
Being a North Star Therapy Animal member has many benefits. You witness people make amazing transformations, your relationship with your animal grows and you also get to see what's in this section!

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Hello There!
Want to learn more about North Star Therapy Animals? Fill out the contact form and we will get back to you.

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Request a Visit

If you’re interested in having North Star Therapy Animals visit your facility, there are a few things to keep in mind:

Our teams are 100% volunteers who often work full time, so
Visit requests with evening or weekend flexibility may be more easily filled
NSTA receives more visits than our 150 teams can fill. If you know someone who would like to volunteer with their pet, have them contact us to find out how to get started!

Invite Us Over!

* - Required Field
Name*
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Title*
Facility Name
Facility's Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code
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Enter Email Confirm Email
Animal Species Requested: (select all that apply)*
Facility Type: (select one)*
Staff Involvement During Visit: (select one)*
Frequency of visits: (select one)*
Time of Visit(s) - Select all that apply
- Weekdays - days
- Weekdays - evenings
- Weekends
Number of Clients Participating Per Interaction: (select as many as apply)*
Details (number of teams requesting, particular days/times you're looking at, visiting environment, etc.)*
EXAMPLE Brandywine Hospital Eating Disorder Unit is an inpatient unit. We serve patients from the age of 13 on up. We treat patients with anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. I’m sure the patients would find comfort and a change from the routine of our unit. Our patients are high functioning and again, would greatly benefit from some animal interactions.
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North Star Therapy Animals added 15 new photos.

2 days ago

We told you about a very special visit a couple weeks ago to Hopkins West Junior High School. The students there were coping with a sudden loss and NSTA was called in to help provide some comfort.

Here are some of the many wonderful faces who answered the call. Not pictured - the also amazing handlers on the other end of all these leashes.

We are so grateful for the amazing work our North Star Therapy Animals do every day. ... See MoreSee Less

We told you about a very special visit a couple weeks ago to Hopkins West Junior High School. The students there were coping with a sudden loss and NSTA was called in to help provide some comfort.

Here are some of the many wonderful faces who answered the call. Not pictured - the also amazing handlers on the other end of all these leashes.

We are so grateful for the amazing work our North Star Therapy Animals do every day.

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View on Facebook

Likes: 18
Shares: 7
Comments: 2

Comment on Facebook

It was such a blessing to be able to share Enja with these students and staff.

Precious furry Angels. Thanks to their handlers too. Kisses and bellyrubs for all these sweet pups. :) <3

North Star Therapy Animals

5 days ago

It's Bailey the Therapy Dog's world - and we're so glad we're living in it.

University of Minnesota Health published a great write-up on the tail-wagging joy North Star Therapy Animals team Holly & Bailey bring to patients during their visits.

It's worth a Wednesday read. Check it out:

www.mhealth.org/blog/2018/april-2018/bailey-therapy-dog-brings-joy-to-university-of-minnesota-med... ... See MoreSee Less

Bailey the therapy dog brings tail-wagging joy to patients at University of Minnesota Medical Center | MHealth.org

mhealth.org

Those are just a few of the comments that Bailey the therapy dog and her handler Holly Parker hear during their regular visits to University of Minnesota Medical Center. The pair are a familiar sight in the hospital units, and their visits provide immense joy to the patients, staff and family member...

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Likes: 29
Shares: 3
Comments: 2

Comment on Facebook

Bailey, you are always smiling!!!!

Thanks for posting! II ❤️❤️❤️ Volunteering with my mum at University of Minnesota Health! Lots of pawsome memories!

North Star Therapy Animals

6 days ago

Despite last weekend's challenging (to say the least) weather, 7 North Star Therapy Animals teams braved the elements and attended the Fraser - Minnesota Walk for Autism at MOA. They were wholeheartedly greeted by a surprisingly large number of families who also attended the walk.

Fraser planners thanks NSTA for being the highlight of their important fundraising event - and our therapy dogs were all too happy to receive those thanks! ... See MoreSee Less

Despite last weekends challenging (to say the least) weather, 7 North Star Therapy Animals teams braved the elements and attended the Fraser - Minnesota Walk for Autism at MOA. They were wholeheartedly greeted by a surprisingly large number of families who also attended the walk.

Fraser planners thanks NSTA for being the highlight of their important fundraising event - and our therapy dogs were all too happy to receive those thanks!

View on Facebook

Likes: 21
Shares: 2
Comments: 1

Comment on Facebook

Wish we could have made it!!! Next year 😉

North Star Therapy Animals

1 week ago

The Fraser - Minnesota Walk for Autism made the Star Tribune! - and that's North Star Therapy Animals member Colby (handler Shawn Lovett) providing some nuzzles to a young visitor.

www.startribune.com/the-fraser-walk-for-autism-at-moa/479778303/#1 ... See MoreSee Less

The Fraser Walk for Autism at MOA

startribune.com

The Fraser Walk for Autism was Saturday at the Mall of America.

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Likes: 12
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Comments: 1

Comment on Facebook

nice work colby! Way to go NSTA

North Star Therapy Animals

1 week ago

In case you weren't up that early...

Veteran North Star Therapy Animals handlers Wendy Hitch and Kristen Kenney appeared with their their therapy dogs, Getty and Merit, on WCCO This Morning on April 10 to promote the Fraser - Minnesota Walk at the Mall of America.

Check out the clip here! We'll be posting pictures from today's event soon.

minnesota.cbslocal.com/video/3842977-walk-for-autism-raises-money-awareness-for-fraser/ ... See MoreSee Less

‘Walk For Autism’ Raises Money, Awareness For Fraser

minnesota.cbslocal.com

April is Autism Awareness Month, and this weekend, there's a big event that raises awareness and also money for an organization making a difference. Rachel Gardner is here from Fraser to talk about the Walk for Autism. (3:27) WCCO This Morning – April 10, 2018

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Shares: 4
Comments: 2

Comment on Facebook

Your beautiful dog gets more publicity than anyone I know! Deserving of course! (And a few of us know how much energy goes into holding the other end of the leash when you live with a superstar) When I think where Pet-Assisted Therapy was 15 years ago I am just so happy in my heart at all that has been accomplished and you and Getty have been such wonderful ambassadors on that journey.

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