2026 Fall Spotlight 

Jessica Davis, Alliance of Therapy Dogs Treasurer 

Schertz, TX 

Meet Jessica Davis and Diego, an Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD) team whose journey began with an unexpected change of plans – and led to a calling to serve others. 

Diego was never supposed to stay.  

When Alliance of Therapy Dog Board Treasurer Jessica Davis first welcomed him into her home in 2019, he was meant to be a temporary foster, with hopes that he would eventually become a service dog for a veteran. Unfortunately, he was unable to be placed. But three weeks was all it took for the plan to change.   “Just three weeks after he came into my life, this dog became my heart dog and changed it forever,” she says. 

There was another change of plans, too. Diego turned out to be a little too social for service dog work by being “wiggly, goofy, and loved people.” 

But what might have been a disappointment became an opportunity. 

Jessica knew Diego’s love of people could be put to good use, particularly in her hometown of San Antonio, Texas, which is known as Military City USA. She wanted Diego to have a purpose and, especially, a way to give back to the veteran community. 

That was the beginning of their therapy dog journey. 

For several years, Jessica and Diego worked as a therapy dog team on a freelance basis. Eventually, Jessica decided she wanted to become more serious about the work and joined Alliance of Therapy Dogs in 2023.  

 “ATD was the perfect fit for us because of its flexibility, support, and mission,” she says. 

Today, Diego and Jessica stay busy bringing comfort and companionship to people throughout their community. Their visits include a senior assisted living community, local events at colleges and universities, the Veterans Wellness Center, and the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors. 

They are also working toward volunteering within the VA and its Polytrauma Recreation Therapy Program – another opportunity to connect Diego with veterans and their families. 

 For Jessica, that work is more than volunteer service. It has become personal. 

 Her boyfriend is an Army veteran. Through some of his recent health challenges, she has experienced therapy dogs from both sides of the leash. She has seen firsthand what it means to watch someone you love receive comfort and support from a therapy dog during a difficult period. 

“It has given me an even greater appreciation for how powerful these visits can be,” she says. “The impact they have on someone’s mental health and overall well-being during a very difficult time in their life.” 

That perspective has deepened Jessica’s understanding of what therapy dogs provide. Sometimes the most meaningful thing a dog can offer isn’t a solution. It’s simply presence – a reason to smile, a moment of connection or a comforting companion when words aren’t enough. 

And Diego seems perfectly suited for that job. 

The dog who loved people a little too much for one career found a place where that love became his greatest strength. 

Jessica’s involvement with ATD eventually expanded beyond visits with Diego. She was fortunate to join the Board of Directors and now serves as the organization’s newly appointed Treasurer. In that role, she has another opportunity to give back – this time by sharing her knowledge and helping support the future of therapy dog teams. 

Looking back, Jessica sees the unexpected turns in Diego’s journey differently. 

What began as a temporary foster became a heart dog. What initially appeared to be a career change became a new purpose. And what started as a way for Diego to serve others ultimately opened a new path of service for Jessica, too. 

“Diego found his purpose, and through him, I found another way to serve my community,” she says. 

For Jessica and Diego, sometimes the best path isn’t the one you planned. 

Sometimes, it’s the one that finds you.