TDCJ News

27th Annual Governor’s Criminal Justice Volunteer Service Awards

Tyler Program Receives Governor’s Criminal Justice Volunteer Service Award

TDCJ Executive Director Bryan Collier, Members of Therapet Animal Assisted Therapy and therapy dogs Biscuit and Blanca, Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott, and TBCJ Chairman Patrick O'Daniel (l-r).

(AUSTIN) – Therapet Animal Assisted Therapy in Tyler, Texas was presented the Health Services Division award during the Governor’s 2022 Criminal Justice Volunteer Service Awards program today. The award was accepted by Elysia Reineck, Executive Director of Therapet Animal Assisted Therapy.

The award was presented by Texas Board of Criminal Justice Chairman Patrick O’Daniel and TDCJ Executive Director Bryan Collier at a ceremony in Austin.

“These individuals have gone above and beyond in their volunteer efforts. No words or awards will be enough thanks for these individuals. We are grateful they decided to use their time and talents for good at TDCJ,” said O’Daniel.

“TDCJ and this state are better because of these award recipients. They are heroes who are making a profound and lasting impact on the lives of so many across the Lone Star State,” said Collier.

The Therapet Team is an occupational therapy program that works with inmates and patients with psychiatric diagnoses in Rusk, Texas. The mission of the organization is to utilize specially trained and certified animals to promote health, hope and healing. They provide the highest quality and best trained volunteer/animal teams to the people they serve. There is so much joy in the patients when they are allowed to pet and hug the animals. Aside from the emotional and mental aid they provide, they also help educate facility leaders, educators and health care staff on the opportunities and benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy. Their services are valuable and beneficial to the mentally ill population.

Therapet Animal Assisted Therapy is one of 5 organizations and 17 individuals from across the state recognized for their efforts to help offenders and those who are on parole or probation. They donate many hours of their personal time every year with the goal of changing the lives of convicted offenders while aiding and comforting their victims.

In FY2021, there were 21,310 volunteers who provided a total of 47,290 hours of service.

Note to media: For more information, contact Robert Hurst at (936) 437-6052 or by e-mail at robert_hurst@tdcj.texas.gov.