Canine Team

Larson brought light, comfort, and unconditional love to everyone he met. He wasn’t just a dog; he was a healer, a constant companion, and a gentle soul who knew just when someone needed a nudge, a paw, or simply the quiet reassurance of his presence.
Larson served as a therapy dog at the Veteran’s Administration, with the National Guard and most recently, as a founding member of E5 Therapy. While he never spoke a single word, he communicated in the language of empathy. He greeted each person with the same patience and kindness, sensing who needed him on any given day. There were countless moments when he would lay his head on someone's lap just as they were beginning to unravel, grounding them, reminding them they weren’t alone. In the midst of pain, confusion, and fear, Larson was a steady presence—calm energy, eyes kind, heart open.
His work was more than a service; it was a gift. In hallways and therapy rooms, he was a bridge between silence and expression, between despair and hope. To many, he made E5 Therapy feel like a home, a safe place. He brought smiles to faces that hadn’t known joy in a long time. He gave people reasons to keep coming back. He helped build trust where trauma had taken root.  He was a better therapist than me.
Outside of his role, Larson was everything we loved about dogs. Loyal, silly, soft, and soulful. He loved belly rubs, sunny spots on the floor, and sneaking a treat or two when he thought no one was looking. He aged with grace and gentleness, always giving more than he asked for in return.
To say goodbye to Larson is to say goodbye to a quiet kind of hero. But his legacy lives on in the lives he touched, the tears he softened, the hearts he helped heal. Grief is the price we pay for love, and Larson—true to who he was—leaves us rich in both.
Rest well, sweet boy. You were deeply loved! You always will be!

aylor Swift, a Doberman Pinscher born in 2023, was adopted from the Solano County Animal Shelter in 2024. Intelligent, confident, and compassionate, Taylor quickly excelled in her training to become a co-therapist / therapy dog. She now provides comfort and emotional support to individuals across the military and first responder communities. With her, equal parts excited or calm presence and gentle nature, Taylor embodies the healing connection between humans and animals.  Her hobbies include snuggles, belly rubs, and playing with her human therapist when no one is in the office.  She may bark, but that is how she says hello.

Hershey, Kimberly's beloved Chocolate Labrador Retriever, was more than just a therapy dog—she was family. Born in 2013, she faithfully served alongside Kimberly as a co-therapist at E5 Therapy, bringing comfort, warmth, and unconditional love to every client she met.

Hershey began her service with E5 Therapy in 2021 at our California office, where she quickly became a cherished presence among clients and staff alike. In 2023, she relocated with Kimberly to our Florida office, continuing her mission of care and connection with the same joyful spirit.

With her gentle nature and enthusiastic greetings, Hershey had a special way of making people feel safe, seen, and cared for. Whether offering a comforting presence during difficult moments or brightening someone’s day with her affectionate personality, she embodied the true heart of canine-assisted therapy.

Hershey’s impact reached far beyond our offices—she touched countless lives and left a lasting imprint on everyone she encountered. She passed away in November 2025, but her legacy lives on in the healing she helped bring, the smiles she inspired, and the love she so freely gave.

Though she is no longer with us, Hershey will always remain a cherished part of the E5 Therapy family. We are forever grateful for the years we shared and the lives she helped change.

Nola is a pure-bred Silver Lab born in 2023 and joined the E5 Therapy team

as Clinician Kimberly’s 2 and co-therapist along with Hershey. Nola has been working hard

alongside Hershey training to become a well-trained therapy dog and

emotional support dog. Nola eagerly comes to work daily and loves

the clients she engages with. Clients delight in her excitement and how

enthusiastically she engages in the therapeutic process. Nola loves the

attention clients give her. She is well on her way to being an amazing

canine therapist. Nola is located at our Florida office. 

Maggie passed away in August of 2021 after a battle with cancer. She resides on the top shelf of Matt's office, where she can oversee the work that her brother, Larson does. She will be missed by all that knew her.

Maggie is a rescue dog from New Mexico found at Loving Labs. She was born in 2009 and got her first therapy certification in 2011. Since that time she has saved multiple lives including alerting her co-therapist to the suicidal intent and homicidal intent of clients. Maggie has been described by her clients as an emotional sponge that never stops absorbing. She has worked for community mental health agencies, the Veterans Administration, the Department of Defense, and California Department of State Hospitals. Maggie is now in retirement working part time as she feels like it, usually one day per week.