“WHO WE ARE” PENNY’S FROM HEAVEN FOUNDATION is an elite group of well-trained, exceptional working therapy dogs, leaving paw prints in healthcare facilities and lives. Our therapy dogs provide services to our returning wounded servicemen and women, children testifying to sexual and physical abuse, hospice patients, children’s hospitals, adult hospitals, the court house, retirement homes, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation hospitals, bone marrow transplant clinics, and these therapy dogs are present at our soldier’s deployments and Yellow Ribbon ceremonies. They are often the silver lining in hostile places and faces. Our Penny’s From Foundation’s working therapy dogs meet an extreme need in any and all situations, dealing with stroke and heart patients, burn survivors, amputees, geriatric patients, soldiers with visible and invisible wounds such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), and working with children at-risk through our affiliation with the R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) program. A special group of our working therapy dogs also provide one-on-one therapeutic intervention and Solution Focused Therapeutic intervention (SFT) in rehabilitation settings, using the dogs as a modality to reach a specific goal or expectation with a patient. These therapy dogs and situations are under the guidance of healthcare professionals (occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech therapists and neuropsychologists) and the handlers with about a 99% success rate. The results become part of the patient’s medical records. Another elite group of our therapy dogs are PTSD Support Dogs, affording comfort and support to our returning wounded with PTSD and TBI. These working therapy dogs are selected and trained for this specific purpose. Through recognition, education, acceptance, treatment and support Penny’s From Heaven Foundation is promoting the use and benefits of trained working therapy dogs with posttraumatic stress patients. Our working therapy dogs are trained to assist with depression, fine and gross motor coordination, trunk and shoulder stability, motivation, confidence, balance, speech, memory skills, problem solving, distraction from pain, walking difficulties, identification of naming objects, following directions, attention to task and much more. Penny’s From Heaven Foundation has the first therapy dogs in the area that are part of neuro-psychology group support sessions with head injury patients. It is in these sessions that breakthroughs often occur in the presence of these remarkable therapy dogs.

News & Events Read and Subscribe to Patsy's New Blog. "Graduating Class" September, 09 with Executive Director/Founder Patsy Swendson and veteran therapy dog, Kelsie, on right. Penny's From Heaven Foundation therapy dogs were featured on the Discovery Health Network's "PETS AND PEOPLE: THE POWER OF PAWS" hosted by Animal Planet's Jeff Corwin. Click to view the video. CNN's Robin Meade, with Robin and Company, flew to San Antonio to do a feature with our Paws On Therapy Dogs and wounded soldiers at the Fisher House. One of whom will be featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine as only one of ten female amputees from Iraq. Tara attributes her 'dramatic turn around' to interaction with one of our therapy dogs.

The Penny’s From Heaven extraordinary group of working therapy dog teams are proud to be affiliated with the Soldiers’ Angels program, The Fisher House, The Warrior Family Support Center, Operation Homefront, Chaplain’s Soldiers’ Angels, K-9 Soldiers’ Angels, U.S. War Dogs, Fort Sam Houston Elementary School, and Camps Mabry, Swift and Bullis.

Penny's from Heaven Foundation working therapy dogs are also on "High Alert" with Soldiers' Angels to assist incoming wounded warriors with severe depression and to offer aid and comfort wherever it is needed with the families of the soldiers.

THE PENNY’S FROM HEAVEN FOUNDATION is a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization that evaluates, tests, trains, qualifies, and assists therapy dog/handler teams in order to provide loving, nurturing and compassionate visitation in nursing homes, hospitals, psychiatric facilities, senior residences, schools, private homes, military care facilities, and other locations where emotional support dogs are indispensable.

Our mission is providing physical and emotional rehabilitation through pet assisted therapy. Our program objectives are as follows:

• Honoring America’s fallen heroes by providing support and encouragement to our service men and women in rehabilitation, through pet assisted therapy, offering hope and inspiration to them, as well as their families.
• Nurturing, training, and caring for the special dogs that provide therapy or service.
• Affording advancement and encouragement to any person, or persons, in a rehabilitation environment through pet assisted therapy.
• Promoting and educating others through stories of healing, service, and courage exhibited by these animals, patients, or persons who have served our nation.

Memorial contributions to further Penny’s work may be made to: Penny’s From Heaven Foundation, Inc. 1915 Eagle Meadow San Antonio, TX 78248

February 20th, 1996 – March 27th, 2009
I will look for you in all things. I will see your face in the faces
of your patients yet to come and in every golden, sunny day.

If you are interested in joining our Paws On Therapy dog teams or in volunteering in any way, please contact Patsy Swendson.

We are a 501 (C) (3) non-profit organization.

Phone: 210-493-5101
Cell: 210-273-6471
Fax: 210-493-1885