Anna & Esther: A Pet Therapy Team in the Making

Comfort, care, and companionship—offered by a thanatologist and her giant, gentle helper

  • Thanatology & community health professional
  • MA in Thanatology (CUNY Brooklyn College – in progress)
  • Volunteer bereavement support caller (Accent Care Hospice)
  • Trained end-of-life doula
  • Future MSW student (Liberty University)
  • Working toward grief & bereavement therapist licensure
  • Guided by compassion, dignity, and the belief that no one—human or animal—should face death alone

Today was a significant milestone in Esther’s therapy-dog journey: she visited her veterinarian, Dr. Tracy, at Howard Beach Animal Clinic for her official Pet Partners medical clearance, and she passed with flying colors!

Esther checking out the scale—always curious and ready to cooperate during her exam.

As a giant-breed therapy-dog-in-training, Esther’s health and physical well-being are essential for the comfort and safety of the people she will eventually serve. Dr. Tracy completed her full exam, checked all her vitals, reviewed her vaccination records, and made sure she is in excellent condition to continue with the next steps of the Pet Partners process.

Esther handled the visit like a pro: patient, calm, and full of her usual gentle energy. She even soaked up all the attention from the veterinary team. With her paperwork now officially completed and approved, Esther is one step closer to her evaluation as a therapy dog and to her future work in hospice, hospitals, and community care.

Watching her stand so confidently during her exam was a reminder of why we started this journey. Therapy work takes time, commitment, and teamwork, but Esther shows me every day that she was born for this role. Our goal is to provide comfort, support, and companionship to individuals and families facing illness, loss, and grief, and moments like today bring us closer to that calling.

Esther is standing patiently as Dr. Tracy and the vet tech complete her medical clearance. She is such a gentle giant.

Esther will continue her training as we prepare for her evaluation, and I couldn’t be prouder of my girl. 🐾❤️

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