About us
Our mission and values
Our mission
The purpose of Manassas Therapy Dogs is to offer pet therapy to the citizens of Manassas and the surrounding communities in Northern Virginia. Our multi-faceted goal is to provide comfort and a brief distraction to people in nursing, rehabilitation and adult care facilities, and to provide support to elementary students' literacy programs, at college campus de-stressing events and other special opportunities that may arise.
Our history
Manassas Therapy Dogs began in 2003 with just one dog and one lady. The founder, Shirley Way, and her Pembroke Welsh Corgi “Dilly”, composed the first therapy dog team in our local area. Since those humble beginnings, Manassas Therapy Dogs has grown to over 50 dog teams and serves the Manassas area and beyond.
All Manassas Therapy Dog teams are certified through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs.
Community purpose and values
- Compassion — for the people we meet and for the dogs who make visits possible.
- Respect — every interaction is voluntary, and every boundary is honored.
- Responsibility — animal welfare, safety, and honesty come first.
- Education — clear, balanced information that anyone can access freely.
Why therapy dogs matter
For many people, a few minutes with a gentle dog can be a bright spot in the day. Therapy dog teams can bring warmth to libraries, schools, and care communities — when visits are planned carefully and the dog's well-being is protected. Read more in our therapy dog education guide.
Therapy dogs, service dogs, and emotional support animals
These three roles are often confused, but they are distinct:
- Service dogs are individually trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability and have public access rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Therapy dogs visit many people with their handlers, by invitation, and do not have special public access rights.
- Emotional support animals comfort their owners through companionship and are not service animals under the ADA.
See our detailed article: Therapy Dogs vs. Service Dogs.