About Executive Director/Founder

Patsy Swendson

Ms. Swendson has spent the past 35 years dedicated to the human animal bond. This passion and her qualifications have led her to Soldiers and Their Dogs: Heroes Bound in War and Peace. The soldiers and the strength of their bond, both on the battlefield and at home, with a K-9, is her inspiration.

The Texas Veterinary Medical Association says, “Patsy Swendson is a tireless ambassador of the human-animal bond and human rehabilitation through pet therapy.” Betty White, says, “I can’t agree more about the invaluable work that all therapy dogs do…your stories are wonderful.” Terry Hershey, Hallmark Network says, “Patsy and her therapy dogs remind us that no matter the circumstances, we can all find hope and joy.” Dr. Marty Becker, resident veterinarian on ABC’s Good Morning America, says Swendson’s stories are heartwarming, inspiring and intimate. SSgt Robert Black USAF says, “These stories are great, this side of the war is rarely shown or honored…keep up the great work.”

Enthusiasm and excitement is at the forefront of Ms. Swendson’s writing. For thirty five years she has promoted the human animal bond to anyone who would sit still. From her twenty years on daily television and radio to today, she continues to practice what she preaches. Over the years she has had multiple therapy dogs. Current pet therapists, Penny and Gracie, can be found working multiple times a week with our wounded war heroes, from severe burn survivors or amputees to the blind or brain injured, in various rehabilitation settings, to include The Fisher House, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Institute of San Antonio, and The Barracks at Brooke Army Medical Center.

A skilled writer, interviewer, multi-media interviewee and feature writer, she is currently a consultant for a noted psychiatrist at the VA hospital in San Antonio, working on a paper to be presented to the National Institute of Health (NIH). The focus is the effects of dogs on soldiers returning from war with traumatic brain injuries.

For the first time, HealthSouth RIOSA acknowledges the importance of her work by inviting Ms. Swendson and her therapy dogs to work with wounded soldiers in group support sessions with a neuro-psychologist, as well as individual sessions with injured soldiers and their physical and occupational therapists.

Ms. Swendson and her therapy dogs have been placed on “High Alert” by ‘Soldier’s Angels’ to provide immediate comfort and aid to wounded and severely depressed soldiers arriving at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio from Iraq.

Her therapy dogs also provide comfort and healing to the mothers, fathers, wives and children of wounded soldiers from all over the United States and beyond. These are staunch fans. She is quick to tell that her greatest praise and honor comes from the patients themselves, as they share how the therapy dogs have touched, inspired, motivated, and often changed their lives.

Swendson recently organized and coordinated Patriotic Pups, a fundraising event in cooperation with the July 4th Patriotic Pops Concert in San Antonio. This event was to honor the wounded soldiers and the therapy dogs who serve them. Over 800 people were in attendance as she addressed the crowd. A wounded double amputee from Iraq escorted her down the aisle to the pulpit and other soldiers escorted Penny’s From Heaven Paws-On Therapy dog teams to the altar for the Blessing of the Animals. It was the first such event of its kind in San Antonio..

Recently she was invited to speak to inmates at the New Mexico State Prison on pet assisted therapy. Swendson and ‘Res,” a therapy dog, spent two hours with rapists, murderers, and child predators, in cooperation with the prison psychologist. She has interviewed several offenders, participating in the cell dog program, at the Dominguez State Prison in San Antonio, Texas.

Saber Tails, a national publication, features Swendson’s popular articles on pet assisted therapy in each issue.

Nationally, Ms. Swendson has been honored with the Media Commendation Award by the Delta Society for Creature Comforts, a five-part series aired nationally, on the human animal bond and pet assisted therapy. The Texas Veterinary Medical Association honored her with their prestigious Mark Francis Award for Journalistic Excellence. Her golden retriever therapy dog, Penny, has been inducted into the Texas Animal Hall of Fame, honored as An American Dog of Distinction and Companion Animal of the Year for the state of Texas, and additionally honored with an Award of Merit from the AKC for her work and participation with our nation’s wounded warriors.

Ms. Swendson and TSgt Antonio Rodriguez are working to establish a permanent War Dog Memorial in San Antonio, Texas, home of Randolph Air Force Base and Lackland Air Force Base. This memorial would honor the service and sacrifices of all U.S. military working dog teams of all branches of the U.S. Armed Service and of all wars.

In 2006, Ms. Swendson formed the Penny’s From Heaven Foundation to “honor 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, and affording advancement and encouragement to any person, or persons, in a rehabilitation environment through pet assisted therapy.” The foundation is receiving nationwide attention and contributions.

It is Ms. Swendson’s life’s work to promote and educate others through stories of healing, service, and courage exhibited by these animals, patients, or persons who have served our nation.

Further, she is currently leading a national campaign to provide much needed supplies and gifts of comfort to the K-9 teams in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Her accomplishments, gifts, and passion led her to author, Penny’s From Heaven: Stories of Healing, focusing on the lives inspired and touched by her golden retriever Penny. A most popular speaker on book tour, or television, radio, or special events, Swendson has also produced a music CD to accompany Penny’s From Heaven with songs selected by Penny’s patients from around the world.

The Lexus Magazine with a circulation of one million, published an article written by Swendson about her pet therapy dog. She has been featured in numerous magazines and publications and writes for national Recovery Today newspaper and the San Antonio Express News.

She was a charter member of the San Antonio Delta Society chapter and became their second president, serving two terms. She was instrumental in getting the first legal health and temperament tested dogs into sixty eight health care facilities in South Texas. She formed the first Pet Loss Task Force in South Texas, in conjunction with the United Way. She is still active in the organization today.

For her continuing support and devotion to the human animal bond and pet assisted therapy, Swendson received The Lynn Anderson Distinguished Service Award in 1991.

For twenty years, Swendson produced and hosted her daily televised cooking program, world wide travel features, and Adopt a Pet (the longest running segment, on any newscast at this South Texas CBS affiliate). She hosted and produced a one hour television program, Pet Pals, featuring human interest stories and the benefits of pets in various therapeutic situations, airing three times weekly.

In twenty years on CBS in South Texas, Swendson authored 49 cookbooks, to include Texas the Beautiful Cookbook, HarperCollins, and Canine and Feline Cuisine, A Cookbook for Chew-sy Pets. Proceeds from this book were donated to The Guide Dogs of Texas.

Her full support was given to the Guide Dogs of Texas with an annual benefit for eight consecutive years, “The Patsy Swendson Unbirthday Bash and Barn Dance.” It was the foundation’s largest and most successful fund raising event. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Bexar County Humane Society, Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, and The Animal Defense League.

With her vast media background, Swendson is a much sought after passionate, inspiring, captivating speaker and consultant for television, radio, newspapers, business organizations, professional associations, to include the American Heart Association, Stroke Survivors of San Antonio, colleges, hospitals and various other groups nationwide. Topics include: Canines as Candy Stripers, The Sick Sense, Healing and Heeling, Combating Loneliness, Relationships in Crisis, Lending a Paw, Providing love and Lengthening Lives, Surviving Depression and Grief Pets and your Heart Health, Faith, Values and Compassion.

Participants in her sessions have commented: thank you for making our world a better place, you are an inspiration all the way around, heartwarming and amazing, what an awesome day, you and your dogs are heroes too, you touched my heart and made my day, you have a gift with these soldiers, I am touched by what you do, you renew my faith in all that is good in the world, you see with your heart, thanks for mentally letting us go along with you and Gracie to visit the soldiers, your words make the visits come alive, bless you for the work you do, your purpose has been fulfilled, it is because of people like you that the world keeps spinning on its axis.

A consultant to other pet therapy groups nationwide, she continues to promote the vast benefits of pet assisted therapies in multiple situations.

Ms. Swendson shares her home in San Antonio, Texas with Lulu, a 150 pound Great Pyrenees; Wally, a Lhaso Apso rescue; Gracie Allen, a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen visually impaired rescue; Penny, a golden retriever; and Rita, a red eared slider turtle, an evacuee from Hurricane Rita. These personal pets provide her with much needed comfort and joy after long days of service to others. She owns and operates The Cook’s Cottage and Suites, three nationally recognized Bed and Breakfasts in the Texas Hill Country town of Fredericksburg. She is working on another pet therapy book, Saving Grace: Moments of Love, Laughter and Hope, focusing on the work of Gracie her blind therapy dog.