Lynne Robinson: Delaware Boomer Goes to the Dogs!

Lynne Robinson, Executive Director of Paws for People is a shining example of the commitment and pursuit of excellence that epitomizes the Baby Boomer generation.

Lynn joined RSVP New Castle County, Delaware in June 2007, both as a volunteer and to register her non-profit organization as an RSVP station. A former high school English teacher with 23 years of service, Lynne began her career in volunteering upon retirement. Everything changed when Boo Radley came into her life. Boo, a beautiful and energetic golden retriever possesses a unique compassion for people. It was Boo’s special qualities and ability to connect with humans that prompted Lynne to embark upon a new career. In 2005 Lynne started the non-profit Paws for People, a pet therapy organization with the belief that pet therapy teams “can bring about change in behavior or improve one’s general outlook on life.” Paws for People started with 21 teams visiting 10 sites. The success of the program is evidenced by its growth to 144 teams visiting 67 sites.

This growth involves more than increasing sites. Lynne thinks about which populations could benefit from pet therapy. In addition to visiting traditional sites such as hospitals and nursing homes, teams reach out to people in hospice programs, individuals going through drug and alcohol rehabilitation, children with autism, and children who have been abused and removed from their homes. Visits also take place at public and school libraries where children are encouraged to read to pets.

These visionary practices have resulted in richly deserved recognition for both Lynne and the pet therapy teams. In 2007 Lynne received the DAVA Award for Excellence in Volunteer Administration. Pet therapy teams visiting Christiana Hospital received one of the Governor's Outstanding Volunteer Team Awards in 2007. In 2008 pet therapy teams participating in Paws for Team Reading in Libraries received this same award.

Lynne is a baby boomer with a passion that feeds her commitment to PAWS. As she puts it she is “continually awed at the power of the connection between animals and people that changes people in a lasting and positive ways.”