About
ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY SERVICES MA IS A 501c3 NON PROFIT ORGANIZTION
AATS MA is an AKC Approved Therapy Dog Organization
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The mission of AATS MA is to provide professional and compassionate therapy dog visits to facilities within the state of Massachusetts as well as quality and informed dog training services to the local community.
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Our Teams
Page Under Construction! AATS MA has over 70 active therapy dog teams and 3 therapy cats!
Kim O'Neil
President & Director
Kim O'Neil is the President and Director of Animal Assisted Therapy Services MA and has been working with therapy dogs for over a decade. Kim holds an Associate's Degree in Veterinary Technology from Becker College and obtained her Professional Dog Trainer Certification through Animal Behavior College by apprenticing with Chris Patella, the founder of AaTs CT. Additionally, Kim has been a Massachusetts licensed horseback riding instructor since she was 18 years old and has been a 911 Dispatcher for over 15 years.
Kim currently has two working dogs: Tomo and Toshi. Tomo is an American Akita who holds the AKC title of Therapy Dog Supreme, which means Kim and Tomo have logged over 600 therapy dog visits (Tomo is believed to be the first akita in US history to accomplish this). Toshi is a Japanese Akita Inu that was adopted from Big East Akita Rescue, a homage to Kim's first working dog (the co-founder of AATS MA!), Keeva.
In addition to therapy dog work, Kim and her dogs are also members of a crisis response team, K9 First Responders, which provides psychological support to first responders and/or survivors following a traumatic incident using debriefing skills and Psychological First Aid, respectively, with therapy dogs. As active members, they are regularly attending voluntary training in order to attain additional credentials in this field.
Kim currently has two working dogs: Tomo and Toshi. Tomo is an American Akita who holds the AKC title of Therapy Dog Supreme, which means Kim and Tomo have logged over 600 therapy dog visits (Tomo is believed to be the first akita in US history to accomplish this). Toshi is a Japanese Akita Inu that was adopted from Big East Akita Rescue, a homage to Kim's first working dog (the co-founder of AATS MA!), Keeva.
In addition to therapy dog work, Kim and her dogs are also members of a crisis response team, K9 First Responders, which provides psychological support to first responders and/or survivors following a traumatic incident using debriefing skills and Psychological First Aid, respectively, with therapy dogs. As active members, they are regularly attending voluntary training in order to attain additional credentials in this field.
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Photography: Karyn Marquis Photography