Hope’s Therapy Dogs – Where Tails Wag & Hearts Heal
Hope’s Last Wish: Helping Others
We had promised Hope she’d get her own Therapy Dog when she recovered. But when she relapsed, her oncologist gently encouraged us to get the dog anyway.
And so, we welcomed Pippa - a scruffy little Cockapoo with a heart of gold. She became Hope’s shadow, never leaving her side, even in her final days.
Before we lost Hope, she asked me for one last promise:
“Mum, please will you train Pippa to help other children like she helped me.”
So, I did.
Pippa trained as a Therapy Dog, and together, we started visiting schools, care homes, and women’s refuges. It didn’t take long to see that she had a gift - she just knew when someone needed comfort.
From One Dog to a Whole Service
By 2019, I took a role as a Therapy Dog Handler at a specialist behavioural school, working with children with Autism, ADHD, and Emotional & Behavioural Difficulties (EBD). My job was to:
🐶 Train a lively Springer Spaniel to become a school Therapy Dog.
🏫 Build a Therapy Dog Programme from scratch.
❤ ️ Support children who needed emotional and mental health interventions.
That experience confirmed what I already knew - when done right, Therapy Dogs can change lives.
What We Do Now
At Hope’s Therapy Dogs, we provide specialist Therapy Dog interventions for:
✔️ Schools & Alternative Provisions – helping children with anxiety, SEND, and emotional regulation.
✔️ Social Workers & Counsellors – providing trauma-informed, animal-assisted support.
✔️ Therapists & Mental Health Teams – offering an extra tool in therapeutic settings.
✔️ Universities & Student Wellbeing Teams – supporting students through stress, anxiety, and life transitions.
✔️ Medical & Nursing Students – delivering training on how Therapy Dogs can support patients’ emotional, mental, and physical health.
✔️ Health Services & Trauma Survivors – working with those recovering from difficult experiences, helping them rebuild trust, confidence, and emotional resilience.
Why Work With Us?
💛 We truly care. Every child, student, patient, and survivor matters. And so do our dogs. Their welfare always comes first because a happy dog = a better therapy session.
💛 We bring real expertise. I’m a Certified Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialist & Dog Trainer, and our team has years of experience in education, therapy, and social work.
💛 We fit into your world. We don’t offer a one-size-fits-all approach - we create bespoke therapy programmes designed to fit the needs of your school, university, or service.
Let’s Chat!
If you’d like to know how Hope’s Therapy Dogs could support your school, service, university, or organisation, I’d love to talk. Let’s explore how we can make a difference—together.
🐾 Ali & the Hope’s Therapy Dogs Team
Hello! I’m Ali, and I’d love to share the story of Hope’s Therapy Dogs - how it all began, why we’re so passionate about what we do, and how our Therapy Dogs could make a real difference to your school, service, or organisation.
It All Began with Hope
I’ve always been a dog lover, but I never truly understood the power of a Therapy Dog until 2016.
That was the year my daughter, Hope, was diagnosed with a brain tumour at just seven years old. During treatment, she met Callie, a beautiful Border Collie, and her handler, Sue.
Callie wasn’t just a dog - she was Hope’s courage, comfort, and calm during 11 long weeks of radiotherapy. Watching that bond in action, I realised something life-changing:
Dogs have an incredible ability to support us in ways humans simply can’t.
Discover "Pippa’s Journey" by Alison Colley
Meet Pippa, a lovable brown-and-white dog with a sparkly collar and a heart full of love. When Pippa is adopted by a brave girl named Hope, their bond blossoms into a heartwarming tale of faith, friendship, and adventure. But when Hope goes to heaven, Pippa learns to carry on her legacy of love and kindness, showing children how hope and Jesus’ love shine even in the darkest times.
Perfect for children aged 4-7, Pippa’s Journey offers comfort and inspiration for families navigating loss, while celebrating the enduring power of love.
See Ali’s Author link HERE