Dr. Donna J. Snyder

Fur-ever Friends
Healing Paws

Unleashing Hope and Happiness With A Therapy Dog

We’re glad that you are here! Please join us and explore our journey as a unique team that focuses on volunteer services and literacy development.

Dr. Donna Snyder is the owner and handler for Hershey.  She is an accomplished educator and advocate for therapy animals.  Hershey is a confident, curious and lovable 5-pound Yorkie with a Zest for life.  He’s a registered AKC therapy dog who LOVES to volunteer in his community.

Watch The Trailer

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Our Vision
Our Mission

Vision

Dr. Snyder and Hershey center their beliefs around a profound statement by David Viscott: "The Meaning of Life is to Find Your Gift. The Purpose of Life is to Give it Away." Our vision is to freely and generously bring the gift of joy, laughter and comfort to others: young and old and all of those in between, through broad-based volunteering and service to our community.

Mission

Dr. Donna Snyder and her therapy dog, Hershey, share one common mission. Hershey is a registered AKC therapy dog. He is a confident, curious and lovable 5-pound Yorkie with a zest for life works side by-side with his owner and handler, Donna Snyder. Dr. Snyder is an accomplished educator and advocate for therapy animals. As a therapy team, they share a common purpose: to serve their community and bring joy and love to others. Simple as that may sound, it guides their daily lives.

About the Team

Dr. Donna Snyder is the owner and handler for Hershey.

An accomplished educator & advocate for therapy animals.

As a therapy team they share a common mission: to serve the community and bring joy and love to others. Simple but important.
About More

VIRTUAL ZOOM VISITS

Hershey also volunteers his services virtually through Zoom sessions for both children and adults.

Watch The Book Trailer

Play Video
About The Book

The ABC's of Hershey: The Reading Therapy Dog

Just Released! Available on Amazon & Barnes & Noble

Want to find out what it’s like to a reading therapy dog? Join Hershey as he “paw-lights” his school experiences.  Through rhythm, rhyme and alphabetical sequence, Hershey will make you smile in his interactive book.

An added bonus is the extensive resource section for children, parents, educators and dog handlers.

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Walmart
Goodreads
Golden Wizard Prize Announcement 1
Award-winner square 2024
2
image
About The Author

Dr. Donna J. Snyder

Book By – Dr. Donna J. Snyder

Dr. Donna Snyder is the author and handler of PAL Hershey. She is a former elementary teacher, district-level curriculum specialist, principal and Director of Early Childhood and Elementary Education for a diverse, urban school system. She is an experienced school turnaround principal, focused on increasing academic achievement of students in underperforming schools. She has vast experience in both public and private education.

More About
Hershey Admires All Young Readers!

He supports their academic, social and emotional development

Want to read to Hershey? You can read to him virtually each week!  Sign up at www.k9readingbuddies.org and choose “Read” from the drop-down menu.

Sign Up
Write to PAL Hershey

American Writing Awards

Children's Book International 2024

We are honored to have been selected as a finalist by the American Writing Awards in the category of “Educational”!

Proceeds will benefit People Animals Love (PAL), the non-profit therapy dog organization serving the DC Metro area.

(YES!  We just found out that we are finalist for another huge award.  We’ll need a photo of this award. ) The award is the “Literary Global Book Award”  and we are finalist in 4 categories!

Reviews

What My Readers Have Said

The ABC's of Hershey: The Reading Therapy Dog is a great book that my kids love! It has engaging photos and fun rhymes that make learning enjoyable for them.

Sarah Wilson Teacher

This book is a fantastic resource for both children and adults. The interactive sections keep kids engaged, and the literacy development strategies are incredibly useful for parents and teachers.

John. B Parent

My kid was having a hard time reading to me. That's when I learned about Hershey, the reading therapy dog. I am forever thankful to Dr. Donna Snyder for delivering such meaningful services. My Kid loves reading now!

Cassie Brown Parent

The ABC's of Hershey has quickly become a favorite at our library. The children love the rhythm and rhyme, and the interactive questions keep them engaged. Hershey's visits to libraries and schools as a therapy dog make the story even more special.

Alex Harrington Educator

Hershey's story and the accompanying resources provide great support for children's emotional and social development. It's a fantastic addition to any school's library, and offers both fun and valuable lessons.

David Berriault Educator

This book is a must-read for therapy dog handlers everywhere. It beautifully breaks down the guidelines and what’s expected of a reading therapy dog.

Adam Kevins Dog Handler, Chicago.

I love how The ABC's of Hershey simplifies guidelines that are sometimes difficult to explain to schools and teachers. It’s perfect for introducing the concept to new teams and students alike.

Amanda Williams Dog Handler, Illinois.

Donna J. Snyder really knows her stuff. She book helped us fine-tune our sessions and made everything run smoother.

Dog Handler Team Florida.

Such a great resource! The ABC’s of Hershey lays out all the best practices in a fun, easy-to-understand way.

Suzie Gray Parent

This book is a lifesaver for first-timers. It helped us nail the introductory session with the kids and teachers.

David Trudeau Educator

Every handler should have a copy of this. It’s packed with tips on making reading sessions with therapy dogs more engaging and effective.

James Ethen Educator

We followed the guidelines in The ABC’s of Hershey, and it made a world of difference in our classroom visits.

Polly Brown Dog Handler.

This book is our go-to for setting up the perfect reading environment. It’s clear, concise, and super helpful.

Garry Addams Dog Enthusiast

It’s amazing how much easier our sessions have become after reading this book. The kids and the dog love it!

Will Stevenson Librarian

A wonderful guide! The ABC’s of Hershey really shows how to create a positive and productive reading session for everyone involved. A must-read for all dog handlers!

Harry Walker Educator
Blogs

Bones, Blogs and Updates

Importance of Rereading Books to Children.
15Jul

Importance of Rereading Books to Children.

Ok, I love my book, The ABC’s of Hershey: The Reading Therapy Dog, but do…

read more
The “Pawsitive” Impact: How Reading Therapy Dogs Enhance Learning.
30Apr

The “Pawsitive” Impact: How Reading Therapy Dogs Enhance Learning.

The “Pawsitive” Impact: How Reading Therapy Dogs Enhance Learning Isn’t the presence of a gentle,…

read more
Hershey Would Love To Hear From You!

Hershey would LOVE to hear from you! He loves to read your messages, letters and look at your pictures. You can write to Hershey at:

 HersheyAKCtherapydog@gmail.com 

He will respond to your letters and messages. You can also follow him on Instagram at:

@hersheykiss_yorkie.

He hopes to hear from you soon!

Check back with Hershey soon as additional new content will be added!

Dr. Donna J. Snyder

Dr. Donna Snyder is the author and handler of PAL Hershey. She is a former elementary teacher, district-level curriculum specialist, principal and Director of Early Childhood and Elementary Education for a diverse, urban school system.
Facebook Twitter Icon-instagram-1 Youtube
Quick Links

© 2024 Dr. Donna J. Snyder | All Rights Reserved.

Our Vision

Dr. Snyder and Hershey center their beliefs around a profound statement by David Viscott: “The Meaning of Life is to Find Your Gift. The Purpose of Life is to Give it Away.” Our vision is to freely and generously bring the gift of joy, laughter and comfort to others: young and old and all of those in between, through broad-based volunteering and service to our community.

Our Mission

Dr. Donna Snyder and her therapy dog, Hershey, share one common mission. Hershey is a registered AKC therapy dog. He is a confident, curious and lovable 5-pound Yorkie with a zest for life works side by-side with his owner and handler, Donna Snyder. Dr. Snyder is an accomplished educator and advocate for therapy animals. As a therapy team, they share a common purpose: to serve their community and bring joy and love to others. Simple as that may sound, it guides their daily lives.