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For nearly 30 years, two- and four-legged volunteers with Hand in Paw have brought smiles, comfort and support to people in need through premier animal-assisted therapy.

To learn more about the program, we tagged along on a visit with Buddy, Maple, Amy and Brent—a Hand in Paw volunteer team that has spent more than 12 years bringing joy to people across Birmingham.

Meet Hand in Paw volunteers Amy and Brent Hamilton

Amy and Brent Hamilton first learned about Hand in Paw more than a decade ago, when one of their child’s friends began undergoing cancer treatment at Children’s of Alabama.

“His parents told us that a Hand in Paw volunteer team visited during his treatments, and it relieved a lot of the stress he was feeling.

After that, we started to gather information to see how we could get involved with such a fantastic organization.”
Brent Hamilton, Volunteer, Hand in Paw

Fast forward to the present day—Amy and Brent are a powerhouse Hand in Paw volunteer duo, making a difference with their 15-year-old Havanese, Buddy and their five-year-old Golden Doodle, Maple.

“Both of our dogs love attention, are very tolerant of being handled and they are always aware of their surroundings. Plus, they are also extremely perceptive of people’s individual needs.”
Amy Hamilton, Volunteer, Hand in Paw

What Amy and Brent love about volunteering with Hand in Paw

In the nearly 13 years that they’ve volunteered with Hand in Paw, Amy and Brent have interacted with countless people at dozens of institutions around the city, including:

The Exceptional Foundation
The Ronald McDonald House
Camp Smile A Mile
Children’s of Alabama
UAB Hospital
Various libraries, elementary schools and college campuses

For Amy and Brent, the experiences are something they are grateful to share—especially during emotional moments.

“One day we visited a patient who was being treated for a traumatic brain injury after being in a car accident a month before. Unbeknownst to us, the patient had not spoken since the accident; however, while petting Buddy’s soft hair, the patient began to say, “love Buddy!”

The family members, nurse and speech therapist immediately reacted with tears of joy—they had not been sure that this patient would ever speak again. This moment reinforced the power of pet therapy for us and the positive results it can facilitate.”
Amy Hamilton, Volunteer, Hand in Paw

Discover how Connection is the Cure by volunteering with Hand in Paw

Interested in becoming a Hand in Paw volunteer? We asked Becki Vance, a longtime volunteer who’s served as a Therapy Team evaluator for eight years, what it takes to be an effective team.

“Therapy dogs and cats need to be naturally socialable, friendly, approachable and ready to engage with people of all ages and backgrounds. What we look for is a calm demeanor, confidence and a love for human contact.

Pet obedience is essential, so we evaluate the teams based on how well they work together. Basically, the stronger the bond between pet and owner, the better.”
Becki Vance, Volunteer and Evaluator, Hand in Paw

Are you and your four-legged friend ready to become Hand in Paw volunteers? Visit Hand in Paw’s website to learn more and check out their Guide to Becoming a Therapy Team to get started.

“My advice for anyone interest in becoming a therapy team is to socialize their pet with people of all ages in a variety of settings. To start, try attending social activites where pets are allowed—family gatherings, parks with other pets, pet stores, etc—to see how your pet interacts with others.”
Becki Vance, Volunteer and Evaluator, Hand in Paw

If your pet isn’t qualified to be a Hand in Paw volunteer, you can still help out by: