Mission
To help people through beneficial contacts with companion, therapy animals and deliver quality animal-assisted activity and therapy programs, to unite people who have mental and physical disabilities and patients in healthcare facilities with professionally trained animals to help improve their health and to promote education as well as encouraging a responsible relationship between people and pets.
Huntsville Pets Helping People
Office: 980 Fish Hatchery Road, Huntsville, TX
Mailing: 980 Fish Hatchery Road, Huntsville, TX 77320
Office Phone: 936-291-7387
Alternative Phone Numbers:
Marilyn Meshell: 936-294-9564
Please use the CONTACT US tab to get in touch. We’ll respond promptly.
HPHP BOARD and PROGRAM DIRECTORS
Officers / Board of Directors
| President | Diane Carpenter |
| Vice President, Canine Representative | Roxie |
| 2nd Vice President | Marilyn Meshell |
| Recording Secretary | Kay Carlson |
| Treasurer | Peggy Hanrahan |
| Sergeant-At-Arms | Don Carpenter |
| At Large Representative | Randy Carlson |
| At Large Representative | Ivan Bickel |
| At Large Representative | David Moorman |
Program Coordinators
Advisors
| Community | David Moorman |
| Veterinary Medicine | Dr Basil Long, DVM |
August 2017
History:
In the spring of 2003, Willow (visit “Meet the therapy animals” page) had earned her AKC Champion title and was looking for a new job. During the 2003 Specialty at Hutto, TX an evaluator from Delta Society (now Pet Partners) conducted evaluations. Don and I helped (see “Members” page). In the Summer of 2003, Willow and I evaluated and joined a wonderful Bryan/College Station group, Aggieland Pets with a Purpose. As a local group, members were only registered to visit in the local area and it was an hour’s drive from Huntsville.
In the fall of 2003, Delta Society evaluations were available in College Station. Delta Society is a national organization and registered teams may visit individually to local facilities (with facility permission).
So, in November of 2003, Willow began visiting the in patient rehab patients in Huntsville Memorial Hospital. In January, she began visiting Ella Smithers Convalescent Home.
Naturally, she drew a lot of attention and people began to think about all the pleasure and joy that their dogs could bring to people in the community. It wasn’t long before there was a small, dedicated group meeting and training: Don & Corky, Ivan & Cassie, Jacque & Bitsie, Marylyn & BoBo, Dale & Whitley (retired) and Marjorie & Jazzmine (retired).
An organization is begun because people want to maintain quality and consistency in the service they are providing. Just as important, the organization offers support to the members.
So, in August 2004, Huntsville Pets Helping People became a Texas Non-Profit Corporation and thanks to advice and guidance of Chris Seaman, who was manager of Wal-mart at the time, applied and became a 501c3 non-profit Charity Organization.
HPHP (Huntsville Pets Helping People) became a Delta Society affiliate by 2005 was able to provide an evaluator and instructor. These two positions enabled us to locally qualify team for registration.
HPHP became a R.E.A.D. affiliate (click on image on Main Page for explanation of program) and began offering this excellent literacy program to Scott Johnson Elementary.
In 2006, two wonderful people from the Devers area attended our workshop and evaluation, Jo Ann and Janet. They decided to join HPHP – again that wonderful support – and the story repeated itself. They visited, people witnessed the great community service and soon they became an HPHP chapter: Paws 4 Love. Of course, their story doesn’t end there. That group expanded into Beaumont and surrounding areas and this year became an independent corporation – SE TX Paws 4 Love. Many of the original Paws 4 Love remain a chapter of HPHP.
In the fall of 2009, the officers & members decided that Intermountain Therapy Animals in Utah was an excellent “fit” for an HPHP affiliation and we have been an affiliate since November 2009.
We remain an all-volunteer organization.