Our Story
Alpa Patel, Director of Happy Tails Petting Club, brings over 25 years of experience working in education, with a specialism in supporting children with special educational needs.
Alongside her professional career, her experience as a foster carer has given her a deep, first-hand understanding of the challenges many children and families face.
Through her work, Alpa recognised the powerful impact that animals can have in supporting emotional wellbeing, confidence, and communication. Seeing how individuals responded positively to animal interaction inspired the development of Happy Tails, combining her background in education and care with a structured, wellbeing-focused approach.
Today, her vision continues to shape the service, supporting both children and adults through meaningful, animal-assisted experiences that promote calm, connection, and personal development.
Alpa and Luna have been professionaly trained by The PAWS Therapy Dog CPD Certification Programme
Our Ethos and Values
Feedback in numbers
Data references responses across 4 provisions and approximately 60 children. Percentages are those respondents reflecting a noted improvement for students under the given criteria.
87%
Improved attendance in school
83%
Reduced anxiety
97%
Reduced stress
93%
Improved emotional support skills
98%
Improved motivation towards learning
89%
Improved positive social interactions
Scroll down to see what professionals have to say about us...
*Also check out our Google Reviews!
'The sessions have had a noticeable impact on our pupils’ emotional regulation and engagement. Students who previously struggled to access learning are now calmer, more focused, and more willing to participate' - Headteacher
'Happy Tails has been a fantastic addition to our wellbeing provision. The structured approach and calm environment have supported some of our most vulnerable pupils to re-engage with school.' - SENCO Lead
“We’ve seen a real difference in confidence and communication. Pupils look forward to the sessions and are much more settled afterwards.” Class Teacher
Where we work
Happy Tails Petting Club is based in North London, and we deliver services across North, West and Central London, as well as surrounding areas.
We support individuals through referrals from parents, carers, schools, local authorities, and healthcare professionals, working collaboratively to provide the most appropriate support for each individual.
Our services are suitable for children, young people, and adults, including those with SEN/SEND needs, and we can support individuals both with and without an EHCP. We work flexibly across a range of settings, including schools, homes, community spaces, and alternative provision environments.
Our programmes can often be supported through a variety of funding streams, including SEN funding, pupil premium, alternative provision (EOTAS), and wider wellbeing or pastoral budgets, making them accessible to a broad range of individuals and settings.
We aim to work closely with schools, local authorities, and families to ensure each individual receives support in the way that best meets their needs.
👉 If you are a school, local authority, referrer, or parent/carer, please get in touch to discuss how we can support you.
Animal Assisted Support vs Pet Therapy Dogs
Important to know the difference
Animal-assisted approaches are often used across schools, healthcare, and community settings, but it is important to understand the distinction between informal pet therapy and structured Animal Assisted Support (AAS).
Pet therapy, sometimes referred to as animal-assisted activities, typically involves volunteer-led visits where individuals interact with animals for comfort, enjoyment, and short-term emotional benefit. These sessions can be uplifting and calming, helping to reduce stress and promote positive feelings in the moment. However, they are generally informal in nature, not tailored to individual needs, and are not designed to achieve specific developmental or educational outcomes.
At Happy Tails Petting Club, we deliver Animal Assisted Support (AAS), which is a structured, goal-focused approach designed to support emotional wellbeing, communication, and engagement. Our sessions are planned and adapted around the needs of each individual, with clear intentions such as building confidence, improving emotional regulation, supporting social interaction, and increasing readiness to engage in learning or everyday activities.
In AAS, the animals are not simply present for comfort. They are actively integrated into each session as part of a guided process. They act as a bridge to help individuals feel safe, build trust, and engage more openly, particularly for those who may struggle in traditional environments. This is especially effective for individuals with SEN/SEND needs, anxiety, neurodivergence, or those experiencing challenges such as EBSA.
Each session is delivered in a calm, structured environment and can be tailored to align with individual support plans, school wellbeing goals, or broader developmental outcomes. Activities are adapted in real time to respond to the individual’s emotional state, engagement level, and comfort, ensuring a personalised and responsive approach.
In simple terms, while pet therapy provides valuable moments of comfort, Animal Assisted Support provides structured, intentional support designed to create meaningful and lasting progress over time.