Welcome
to
Divine
Dogs
A THERAPY DOG MINISTRY
We are a faith-based therapy dog organization, sharing unconditional love through the comforting presence of our certified therapy dogs.
OUR MISSION
We share God's gracious, unconditional love found in the comforting presence of our certified therapy dogs through outreach and education within our communities.
WHO DO WE SERVE?
Everyone!
Our dogs have served in a variety of communities, including the following:
People of all ages with special needs
Those affected by illness
Grief workshops and support groups
PADS shelter programs
WINGS women/children's shelter
Military and their families
Children and teen communities
Summer camps for children in Foster Care
Church groups/schools/communities wanting to learn more about Therapy Dogs
SIP OF HOPE coffee shop supporting mental health
What is a Therapy Dog?
A Therapy Dog is trained to provide comfort to those in different communities such as hospitals, nursing homes, church groups, children's programs, and support groups.
A Therapy Dog is chosen for their calm temperament and friendly personalities. Therapy Dogs provide comfort and a peaceful sense of calm with their gentle, friendly, and non-judgmental presence.
Our Humble Beginning
Sandee Thomas founded the Divine Dogs Ministry in 2004 when she witnessed firsthand the comfort and peaceful solace that the existence of a therapy dog can bring. With her beloved Golden Retriever, Tesla, at her side, Sandee felt led to share these amazing animals and their powerful presence with the community she loved at Willow Creek Church in South Barrington, Illinois. Together with her friend Debbie, and her dog Abby, the foundation was laid for a successful ministry starting with just two dogs. The ministry grew quickly and began serving in all different areas of the church, as more and more people enjoyed and witnessed the blissful power of their dogs.
Trusting that God is in charge and has blessed the Divine Dogs ministry abundantly, Sandee continues to listen carefully for God's prompting and guidance. Sadly, in April of 2021, her beloved "heart dog" Tesla unexpectedly passed away, crossing the Rainbow Bridge at the tender age of seven. As tragic and difficult as this loss was, it sparked Sandee's determination to open this ministry to serve ALL of God's people. With the blessing of the Holy Spirit, Sandee's dream is for doors to be opened and for Divine Dogs to serve free from the boundaries of a single church. She hopes to reach out to all those interested in the surrounding communities, so that increasingly larger numbers of people might benefit from the joy, love, peace, and hope that interacting with a therapy dog can bring!
Tesla's memory, and her loving, joyful spirit continues to live on as the inspiration and driving force behind the Divine Dogs Ministry Team.
Our Certification
All Divine Dogs are tested and certified through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. You can look for the distinctive red heart on each of our dogs' collars, which we proudly display as a sign of our rigorous standards. Each of our dogs/handlers teams have worked very hard to earn the right to wear this red heart.
Contact Us
Divine Dogs Serving
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