Who We Are

From Our President

Research shows that magical things happen when a child interacts with a certified therapy dog. Anxiety level decreases, heartbeat slows, breathing becomes deeper and more relaxed, and fears are forgotten. When a child feels calm and secure, not only is learning possible, but physical and emotional healing are achieved.

Positively impacting thousands of children throughout our community, Roxy™ Therapy Dogs’ programs provide a unique, irreplaceable, dependable support system for children in a number of situations. These programs would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our certified pet therapy dog teams, and the support of our generous community.

Coming in all shapes, sizes, colors and breeds, Roxy Therapy Dogs are as diverse as they are unique. What they all have in common though, is their love of children, and their undeniable ability to comfort and connect with them.

Whether you are interested in volunteering, donating, or learning more about Roxy Therapy Dogs, our website is full of helpful information and meaningful photos. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of our Directors, listed below.

Sharon Fleck, President, Roxy Therapy Dogs

Volunteer Program Directors

Phyllis Mikolaj, Director of Schools, Director of Roxy Pediatric Comfort Program at Pedia Manor  

Melissa D’Amato, Director of Courthouse Companionship Program

Sharon Fleck, Director of Secondary School Stress Relief Program  

Andrea Dadigan, Director of Roxy™ Responders

Volunteer Administrators

Catherine Refice, Director of Volunteers  

Maddi Fleck, Associate Director of Volunteers 

Rob Marchand, Director of Development

Volunteers

as of 02.24

Roxy History

Roxy Therapy Dogs’ formation was the result of witnessing the positive effects that therapy dogs have on Alzheimer’s patients. During a visit with her beloved grandmother, Roxy Therapy Dogs founder, Diane Smith, saw how a resident therapy dog was able to connect with her grandmother and bring her out of her shell and into the present in a way Diane had not seen in a very long time.

It was those special moments that inspired her to adopt Roxy, a gentle Boykin Spaniel, and to start training in 2004 as an emotional therapy dog team.

Roxy’s extreme love of children prompted her to offer therapy dog visits at her son’s elementary school in the Central Bucks School District in 2005, encouraging children with reading challenges to read aloud to her. We got our official name when their learning support students surprised Diane and Roxy with a banner proclaiming, “Reading Rocks with Roxy Reading!” And the rest, as they say, is history!