Tallahassee Memorial Animal Therapy Unveils Mural to Celebrate 40 Years of Service
July 25, 2025Categories: News, Animal Therapy
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) celebrates the 40th anniversary of Animal Therapy in the Big Bend with the unveiling of a special mural at the TMH Animal Therapy Training Center (1301 E. Sixth Ave., Tallahassee, FL 32303). Designed by local artist Nancy Upthegrove, the mural highlights the diverse types of animal volunteers that have made a profound impact on the community.
Animal Therapy teams provide therapeutic interventions that offer both physical and emotional support in a variety of settings, including medical rehabilitation, senior services, courtrooms and educational institutions. The mural features therapy animals working in our community, including a cat, rabbit, horse, bird, guinea pig and dogs.
"We are incredibly proud to unveil this mural as a tribute to the animals and volunteers who have been the heart of our organization for 40 years,” said Stephanie Perkins, Director of Animal Therapy at TMH. “Every paw, tail and whisker represents the profound impact animals have had on those we serve. It’s an honor to witness this growth and see firsthand the positive change it brings to our community.”
The Animal Therapy Department at TMH is led by Director Stephanie Perkins, Manager Heather Gainey and Coordinator Heather Van Liere. Together, the team continues to drive the Department’s development and impact, ensuring patients, families and the Big Bend community experience the healing power of animal therapy.
"Over the last four decades, Animal Therapy has grown tremendously thanks to the dedication of our volunteers, and the support of the community,” said Nigel Allen, President & Chief Advancement Officer of the TMH Foundation. “What started as a single human-animal team has grown to over 200 teams, serving more than 150 facilities across the region. We hope this mural will inspire future volunteers just as our current teams have inspired us for 40 years.”
This is the second event to celebrate Animal Therapy’s 40th anniversary. On July 12, TMH held a volunteer appreciation event at Goodwood Museum & Gardens, where over 100 volunteers gathered, many with their animal partners, to celebrate their collective contributions.
Learn more about Animal Therapy and ways to support.
