Loving Animals Providing Smiles (LAPS)

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Loving Animals Providing Smiles (LAPS)

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LAPS is an all-volunteer non-profit animal assisted therapy organization serving Napa Valley, Solano, and Sonoma Valley Ca.

Our Mini-Hooves Providing Smiles division serves Nevada County Ca. LAPS focuses on creating therapy programs where multiple teams work together. We have found that where one therapy team can touch a client, simply having different pets at each session may engage clients who otherwise might not connect with a given team. Each team is encouraged to master behaviors and learn special skills that work in concert with other teams, thus building a positive, energetic environment for everyone.

10/31/2026

Corgi Bixby and Beagle Jax put on a virtual costume party for our clients at Mustard Seed House. Jax couldn't attend the October visit so Bixby's handler Vange cleverly shared photos of the two pups in costume. Fun photos can be a great way to engage with residents, and we love getting to see them, too!

10/31/2026

LAPSanimal assisted therapy teams had a spooktacular time visiting at Sonoma Hills this week. Lots of festive and scary decor created a wonderful fall backdrop for a visit full of fun and love. Marilane with Miss Reno, Rory with Tug, Mara with Angus, Sadhana with Bodhi and Pam with Harper, brought smiles to all the residents they met.

Find out more about our all-volunteer services at lovinganimalsprovidingsmiles.org

10/30/2026

Remembering Toby, our first animal assisted therapy cat, and his handler Barbara, on National Cat Day. Toby was a fluffy rock star who taught our pups a thing or two and brought smiles to everyone he spent time with. 💜

10/28/2026

Today, October 27, is Día de las Mascotas, when our beloved pets who have passed can visit their families.

Please join us in remembering all our special LAPS friends who have crossed the rainbow bridge. We’ve mentioned just a few in this post, but we treasure them all. If one of our wonderful LAPS angels touched your life, we invite you to share a memory in the comments.

Deassa & Albert Einstein
Deassa & Chassis
Marilane with Trooper & Comet
Nancy & Roxie
Vange with Radar & Boca
Tina & Bobby
Lisa & Nate
Laura, SuziQ & Gwenn’s mom, Ginnie
Juanita & Sadie
Marilane with Fasching & BearBear; Carolyn & Bailey
Cindy F. & Angel
Nanette & Bella
Neal, Cindy, & Bailey
Cindy & Benson
Lee & Mini

10/23/2026

Lucy plays an important role in therapy team evaluations. Along with LAPS Board member Gwenn, Lucy role plays a dog the team being evaluated encounters during a visit. The team must demonstrate the ability to politely ignore the unexpected pup and continue their visit scenario. We rely on this little cutie to have great manners herself. She aces it every time!

10/21/2026

Michele and Elsa also passed their renewal evaluation last month. Here, Great Pyrenees Elsa strolls calmly past neutral dog Amaizey. Elsa is such a fluffy sweetheart!

10/20/2026

Lori and Australian Shepherd Amaizey demonstrated their polite “out for a walk” skills during their biannual evaluation last month. They also assisted with all the other team evaluations. A busy and successful day. We depend on our volunteers to keep LAPS strong! Twenty-five years and counting!

10/19/2026

LAPS team member Ned brings good times to the Meadows each month along with handler Caitie and other LAPS teams. Here, he’s ready to start - right now, please!

10/17/2026

Let’s congratulate another renewing team: Vange with Corgi Bixby. A big dog in a short package, Bixby sometimes uses a stool to position himself at the ideal visiting height, as shown here with evaluation helpers Sandy and Gwenn. He’s a bundle of love and energy, and we appreciate all the joy he and Vange bring to LAPS’ clients.

Address

PO Box 6596
Napa, CA
94581

Telephone

(707) 265-6642

Website

http://www.lovinganimalsprovidingsmiles.org/

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