Our Story
How it all started...
The journey of Pawsitive Friendships began with a transformative moment.
Tosha’s son, diagnosed with High Functioning Autism in 2012, made remarkable progress in his skill development with the help of their French bulldog, Zoe. This breakthrough turned challenging exercises into moments of connection and achievement, leading to the creation of Pawsitive Friendships.
Tosha trained Zoe as a therapy dog, forming a bond that became the foundation of Pawsitive Friendships. Inspired by her son’s success, she realized that therapy animals could provide invaluable support for other children too.
Pawsitive Friendships was born.
Our Promise
To transform lives through the power of acceptance, one Pawsitive friendship at a time.
Our Mission
Our Core Values
Our Staff
Tosha Tharp-Gaitanis
Founder and CEO
Hailey Scott
Program Coordinator
West & Central Valley
Meili Clare
Program Coordinator
East Valley
Maddie Olson
Program Assistant
Central Valley
Keri Hetherington
Admin Assistant
Adilene Guevara
Program Coordinator
Tucson
Emily McDougal
Program Assistant
East Valley
Board of Directors
Tosha Tharp-Gaitanis
Founder/CEO/Autism Mom
Board Member
Treva Griffin
Animal Behavior
Specialist/Special Needs
Parent Board Chair
George Rambow, BS
Rebeca Lopez, MBA
Assure Healthcare-Owner
Treasurer
Rick Woolfolk, MBA, MED
Empower Academy – Director
Board Member
Dr. Rachael McKinney, DVM
Urban Livestock Equine Veterinary Services – Owner
Board Member
Our Pawsitive Pets
