Gabriel's life was spent comforting children in pain. Photo courtesy of Gabriel's Angels.
Last week, a gentle grey dog named Gabriel lost his battle with cancer. Gabriel, a Weimaraner, was trained to be a therapy dog and began visiting the children of Crisis Nursery Phoenix 10 years ago. He offered unconditional and non-judgmental love, changing the lives of more than 5,000 children and countless adults.
“While we mourn the passing of an amazing therapy dog, we also celebrate the unconditional love, hope and compassion Gabriel shared with everyone he met,” says Pam Gaber, Gabriel’s “mom,” who is also the Founder and CEO of Gabriel’s Angels. “I knew Gabriel was a special dog when I brought him home. But he really proved how very special he was with all the children he helped, and his namesake will live on in his memory.”
Gabriel’s Angels mission is to deliver healing pet therapy to abused, neglected and at-risk children, nurturing their ability to love and trust, thereby freeing them from the cycle of violence.
In Gabriel’s memory, Gabriel’s Angels’ 150 Pet Therapy Teams will continue to visit more than 100 facilities around the Metro Phoenix area and Southern Arizona, helping more than 13,000 children each year. The volunteer teams — owners and their dogs — visit children in crisis nurseries, domestic violence and homeless shelters, group homes after-school programs and self-contained classrooms.
Gabriel’s passing marks the organization’s 10th anniversary. To make a donation in Gabriel’s honor, call 602-266-0875 or visit GabrielsAngels.org.
