Rachel McPherson

Rachel McPherson is the founder and executive director of The Good Dog Foundation, an animal-assisted therapy organization serving people in health-care, social-service, community, and school settings. Originally planning to make a documentary about therapy-dog services, she instead established the foundation and led efforts that helped change New York State law to permit therapy dogs in health-care facilities. She was named New Yorker of the Week by NY1 News in 2006.

McPherson is the author of Every Dog Has a Gift: True Stories of Dogs Who Bring Hope & Healing Into Our Lives, published by Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin in 2010. The book draws on her experiences with the foundation and presents stories of dogs providing service, therapy, and comfort.