bringing smiles, acceptance, laughter, love

Loving Animals Providing Smiles

All Volunteer Organization

A photo collage of portraits of LAPS teams and LAPS associate members. All members are in their purple uniform shirts and khaki slacks.

Loving Animals Providing Smiles (LAPS)

During this uncertain time, we hope you and your loved ones are staying safe and well. In March 2020, the volunteers of Loving Animals Providing Smiles and Mini Hooves Providing Smiles joined the rest of our country and began physically distancing. And while our therapy animal visits have stopped for the current time, our commitment to facilities, staff and clients has not.

LAPS and MHPS have continued to support many locations from our homes and we are now to looking for new ways to reconnect. Our volunteers and their pets continue to practice skills used during in-person sessions and are now learning new skills in preparation for distance activities.

We can clearly see how interconnected we are and how much we need each other’s support. LAPS and MHPS are ready to work with communities and facilities to bring back the power of the human-animal bond. And we will do this with safety, kindness and appreciation in our hearts and minds.

Please keep up with our activities via Facebook (link opens in a new tab). LAPS and MHPS eagerly look forward to the time when we can be together again, sharing hugs, smiles and stories.

Loving Animals Providing Smiles (LAPS) is an all-volunteer organization of well-trained, registered animal-assisted therapy teams. Each team is made up of one handler with one animal. Our goal is to enrich the lives of our clients and improve their overall well-being.

2021 Health Update

Happy 2021!  We hope you and your loved ones are staying safe and well.

While our indoor therapy animal visits remain on hold, our dedication to facilities, staff, clients, and our own volunteers, has not.  Loving Animals Providing Smiles and Mini Hooves Providing Smiles are now supporting many locations in inventive ways.  Some LAPS Teams are using Zoom to participate in library reading programs, and others have recorded videos to brighten the lives of residents and staff in retirement communities.

 Our MHPS teams created heartwarming Holiday postcards and LAPS is following up with Valentine cards, both given to residents in multiple facilities.

Looking ahead, we’re expanding our commitment.  Whether via phone, email, mail or digital, LAPS and MHPS are ready to work with even more communities and facilities to bring back the power of the human-animal bond.  With our furkids by our sides, we’ll continue to do this with safety, kindness, joy, and appreciation in our hearts and minds. 

a young girl reads to a small grey Schnauzer and his handler. The girl and handler are wearing masks and the visit is taking placce outside in the shade of a tree where the LAPS team and client can social distance, yet still interact.

Please keep up with our activities via Facebook. LAPS and MHPS eagerly look forward to the time when we can be together again in person, sharing hugs, smiles, and stories. Until then, we look forward to connecting online and with social distance. 

With much love and gratitude, the Board and Volunteers of LAPS and MHPS.

#LAPS_aat #therapypets #animalassistedinteractions #animalassistedtherapy #therapydog #therapycat#therapyhorse #therapydonkey #napavolunteer #solanovolunteer #sonomavolunteer

Interested in getting started in Animal-Assisted Therapy with your mini-horse or mini-donkey? Mini Hooves Providing Smiles will be holding a AAT Handling Skills class in October and November. See the download pdf in the downloads section below.

Downloads for Canine and Non-Canine Teams
A young brown Boxer dog practices greeting a woman seated in a chair. His handler sits next to him and helps him greet politely.
Classes are on hold until 2021
A large black Labrador and his handler help an elementary school girl learn how to safely greet a strange dog.
Canine Team Application (link opens in a new tab)
Two LAPS volunteers stand in front of our booth at an outdoor event.
Associate Member Application (link opens in new tab)
A large white cat lays on a chair in the sunshine. The cat is wearing a purple LAPS scarf around his neck.
Non-Canine Team Application (link opens in a new tab)
Downloads for Mini Hooves Teams
Two mini hooves teams and a cat team pose outside a facility.
Mini Hooves AAT Handling Skills Flyer for Fall 2021 (link opens in a new tab)
An elderly woman pets the muzzle of a brown miniature horse. The horsse is wearing a purple harness and tennis shoes.
Mini Hooves Team Application (link opens in new tab)
A brown miniature horse visits with clients at a senior facility. His handler stands beside him.
Mini Hooves Associate Application (link opens in new tab)
A palomino mini horse poses for the camera with his two LAPS handlers. The handlers kneel beside him.
Mini Hooves website coming soon!