We are delighted to announce that Essex Therapy Dogs has been recognised with two national awards in the 2026 Animal-Assisted Intervention Excellence Awards.
Our organisation has been awarded:
- Best Community-Based Therapy Dog Service 2026 – Essex
- Animal-Assisted Intervention Excellence Award 2026
These awards recognise the dedication of our incredible volunteer handlers and therapy dogs who provide comfort, companionship, emotional support, and wellbeing visits across schools, hospitals, care homes, community groups, and other settings throughout Essex.
Founded with the aim of improving wellbeing through the positive impact of animal-assisted interventions, Essex Therapy Dogs continues to grow thanks to the compassion, professionalism, and commitment of our volunteers. Every visit made by our teams helps create moments of connection, confidence, calm, and joy for the people we support.
Chair of Essex Therapy Dogs, Tina Jullings, said:
“We are absolutely thrilled to receive these awards. They are a reflection of the hard work and kindness shown by all of our volunteers and their wonderful dogs. Every single volunteer gives their time so generously to support people within our communities, and we are incredibly proud of the difference they make every day.”
Over the past year, Essex Therapy Dogs has continued expanding its support across Essex, with therapy dog teams visiting a wide range of settings including educational environments, healthcare services, dementia groups, and wellbeing initiatives.
We would like to thank everyone who supports Essex Therapy Dogs, including our volunteers, partner organisations, supporters, and the many individuals who welcome our teams into their settings each week.
Together, we remain committed to making a positive difference across our communities — one paw at a time.