A UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION
Animals bring meaning to human life. People find pleasure and connection in the enthusiasm, kindness and affection that animals give freely. For 28 years, PAL has used this special bond between animals and humans to make a unique contribution in solving challenging societal needs.
HISTORY
Throughout his career, Dr. Earl Strimple, a Washington, D.C. veterinarian, witnessed the bond between animals and humans and saw the benefits it gave to families. Eager to explore other ways that society could benefit from the power of the human-animal bond, he founded PAL in 1981.St. Francis Center is a center for healing and its founder, Rev. Willam Wendt, also witnessed the remarkable ability of pets to ease grief. PAL's pilot program at the St. Francis Center brought comfort to the newly bereaved, and as time passed, this effort expanded to additional sites and became the PAL Pet Visit Program.
Another early effort at Lorton Prison offered the prisoners the chance to be responsible cat owners. The offenders found healing in their own lives as they increased their compassion and empathy through loving their pets. One of the incarcerated men told Dr. Strimple he thought something like this might help his children back home in D.C. to avoid some of the mistakes he had made. In response, PAL Club was created and now offers year-round after-school and summer enrichment to lower-income children living in Southeast D.C.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 
Earl O. Strimple, D.V.M.
Founder & Chair
Veterinarian (retired)
Washington, DC Delegate
American Veterinarian Medical Association
C. Madison (Brick) Brewer, Esq.
President
Highsaw, Mahoney & Clarke, P.C.
American Veterinarian Medical Association
C. Madison (Brick) Brewer, Esq.
President
Highsaw, Mahoney & Clarke, P.C.
Carlin Rankin
Vice President
Real Estate Management
Pet Visit Group Leader
Beth Libow, Esq.
Secretary
Pet Visit Volunteer
Vice President
Real Estate Management
Pet Visit Group Leader
Beth Libow, Esq.
Secretary
Pet Visit Volunteer
Toni Billingslea
Administrator (Retired)
Pet Visiting Group Leader
Administrator (Retired)
Pet Visiting Group Leader
David Carrier, Esq.
Outreach Director
Child Trends
Child Trends
Dawn Mancuso
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Executive Officer
Association of Air Medical Services
Robert Rosenbaum, M.D.
Neurosurgeon
National Naval Medical Center
Sheldon Ray
Senior Portfolio Manager
International Wealth Specialist
Global Wealth Management
Morgan Stanley
Susan McGregor
mcgregor management inc
Pet Visit Volunteer
Julia Ashley
Manager of Nonprofit Programs and Learning
American Society of Association Executives
Donnie Shaw
Director of Community Relations
YMCA National Capital
Sandra Braun
Banker
PAL Volunteer
Robert Rosenbaum, M.D.
Neurosurgeon
National Naval Medical Center
Sheldon Ray
Senior Portfolio Manager
International Wealth Specialist
Global Wealth Management
Morgan Stanley
Susan McGregor
mcgregor management inc
Pet Visit Volunteer
Julia Ashley
Manager of Nonprofit Programs and Learning
American Society of Association Executives
Donnie Shaw
Director of Community Relations
YMCA National Capital
Sandra Braun
Banker
PAL Volunteer
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