04/11/2025
Congratulations Stephanie! Well deserved!
🌟 Exciting News! 🌟
We are thrilled to announce that Stephanie Perkins, our Director of Animal Therapy here at TMH, has been named President of the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations (IAHAIO)! 🐾🌍
Stephanie’s path to this global leadership role began in 2000 with one special Australian Shepherd who showed her the transformative power of the human-animal bond. From there, she went from devoted dog guardian to therapy team member, and eventually, to Director of TMH’s Animal Therapy program—where she has spent the last 20 years growing one of the most respected programs of its kind.
Under Stephanie’s leadership, TMH Animal Therapy has expanded from just 35 teams to more than 250, serving people of all ages in healthcare, educational and judicial settings. Not only has she built a strong foundation, she also still regularly visits hospitals, schools and courts with her own therapy animals (including guinea pigs, rabbits, and dogs 🐶🐰🐹).
Stephanie’s commitment to compassionate, ethical and impactful animal-assisted interventions has earned her the Leon County Humane Society’s Purple Paw Award and a spot among Tallahassee’s 25 Women You Need to Know.
As IAHAIO President, she brings her visionary spirit, love for collaboration and a deep understanding of how animals can help humans heal. She’s passionate about raising global standards, expanding access in developing countries and ensuring animals are treated with dignity and choice in every interaction.
Stephanie takes the helm of IAHAIO—a global network of over 100 organizations—this August in Amsterdam. We couldn’t be more proud of her and this incredible milestone.
Please join us in congratulating her on this well-deserved honor! 👏🐾
🌟 Congratulations, Stephanie!🌟
