Mattie Mae Krause, Executive Director, saw firsthand the transformative effects of animal therapy and service for her patients. As a podiatric medical student at Midwestern University, Krause observed how therapy and service animals brought comfort and connection to veterans in VA hospitals, individuals experiencing homelessness at community clinics, and those with special needs participating in the Special Olympics. She also saw how her own family members, including herself, benefited deeply from the partnership of service and therapy animals.
Krause’s dog, Solo, is currently training to become a therapy dog. Together, they’ve visited her grandfather in memory care and others in similar facilities, where she witnessed the undeniable power of animal therapy to bring comfort, joy, and even moments of clarity.
Throughout her time with the Miss America Organization, Krause had the opportunity to work with various service and therapy animal programs, gaining insight into the life-changing impact these animals have. Her experiences made her realize that while the benefits were profound, access to such services was often limited by financial barriers, lack of resources, and absence of a central directory. Healing shouldn’t be limited by circumstance. She envisioned a nationwide network, where individuals could easily find animal therapy services in their community and healthcare professionals could have the resources they need to bring animal therapy and service into their practices.
Compassion: A commitment to supporting individuals facing physical or mental disabilities, ensuring they feel understood and cared for.
Education: A strong focus on providing thorough, accessible education about service animal therapy and related services to both the public and specific communities.
Awareness: An emphasis on raising awareness about the importance of service and therapy animal programs and the benefits they offer, both locally and nationally.
Scientific-Evidence: Prioritizing scientific and medical evidence to build a stronger foundation to advocate for animal-based therapies.
Collaboration: Working closely with like-minded organizations, volunteers, and ambassadors to achieve common goals and extend the network’s reach.
Accessibility: Ensuring that information, services, and resources related to service and therapy animals are easily accessible to those in need.
Financial Support: A commitment to providing financial resources, such as scholarships and funding for research, to further the mission of service and therapy animal programs.
Innovation: A focus on continuously improving and advancing the field of service and therapy animal programs through research and the development of new programs and initiatives.
Dylan Mariano – Chief Financial Officer
Caitlin Martin – Chief Operating Officer
Brad Quarberg – VP of Communications
Ava Krause – VP of Education Curriculum
Christina Ruedy – Veteran Outreach Chair
Sue Weidemann – Marketing Chair
Mandi Horstman – Fundraising Chair
Lauren Stevens – Grant Writing Chair
Haley Wright – Medical Education Chair
Our State Ambassadors are the heart of Healing Paws Network, championing our mission to make animal therapy accessible across the nation. These dedicated individuals work tirelessly to connect local programs, organize state directories, and represent Healing Paws Network at events in their communities.
From writing insightful articles for our monthly newsletter to spearheading fundraising efforts for scholarships, our ambassadors bring passion, expertise, and commitment to their roles. Get to know the leaders helping to pave the way for animal therapy in your state!
Alicia Krause – Alabama
Shailey Ringenbach – Arizona
Drishti Dhawan – Massachusetts
Marco Caprioni – New Jersey
