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Gail is a retired registered nurse. She worked in a variety of areas in hospitals, home care, and hospice; and taught nursing students at Illinois Wesleyan University. Gail earned both a bachelor's and master's degree in nursing; authored and co-authored several professional articles. This is her first book, which won First Place in The Christian Authors Awards in the Fall of 2022. Gail combines her personal and professional experiences when working with therapy dogs in a variety of settings.
Gail currently resides with David, her husband of forty-four years, and Sadie, her third golden retriever and therapy dog, in Wisconsin. Her hobbies include snowbirding in Gulf Shores, AL during the cold Wisconsin winters, traveling, gardening, therapy dog work, writing, and spending time with family and friends.
Reviewed by Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite
Paws, Purpose and Possibilities: How Therapy Dogs and Faith Healed My Heart by Gail H. Scoates is an inspiring work that offers impactful lessons about faith and healing from therapy dog work. After losing her sister Karen, Scoates was determined to see something good emerge from her heart-breaking loss. In 1998 when therapy dog work was still new, she was invited to join her church’s faith-based therapy dog program. She knew what therapy dog work could do after seeing how dogs had helped Karen during the latter part of her life. Scoates decided to join, a decision that took her on a wonderful journey as she helped uplift the lives of others through therapy dog work. She shares this amazing story and the lessons she learned along the way in her heartwarming book.
With profound lessons related to faith, Paws, Purpose and Possibilities is a powerful depiction of how great things can come from pain and grief. I enjoyed learning about each therapy dog. All of them were special and their interactions with children and adults were moving. It was also lovely to read about how Scoates’s work grew, including the wonderful moments she experienced and the people she encountered. The faith lessons shared are practical and can be applied in daily life. There are many happy and funny moments included which I enjoyed. Gail H. Scoates has provided a wonderful work that readers will love. It is unforgettable, with important lessons and useful information for anyone who wants to get involved with therapy dog work.
