TPU Board of Directors
Jean has been President at Therapy Pets Unlimited since the beginning and is a co-founder of the organization.
She has been a therapy pet volunteer since March 2008. Jean and her dog Luna have clocked nearly a thousand volunteer
hours and are recipients of three Presidential Awards for Volunteerism. Mrs. Severe worked in the Senior Health Care
Industry and in Hospitality for over twenty years; thirteen of which with a non-profit organization. Jean's background
is in Marketing and Admissions for three different facilities. She was responsible for generating their entire revenue
stream through admissions. For the non-profit, Mrs. Severe has developed and produced dozens of promotional events and
fundraisers during her career. She has created and worked with budgets and made quarterly reports to the Board of
Directors. Jean believes that everyone who is able, should seek an avenue where they can "give back" to their Community.
Alan is a volunteer, contributor, and supporter of many rescue groups. He provides transportation and
support, and conducts home visits to evaluate potential forever home parents. His wife and their dog
Caramel were members of another therapy pet organization. He owns a full service sign shop in Baltimore,
providing design, fabrication, and installation of all types of signage. He lives in Lutherville with his wife,
two small children, their beagles Honey and Lucy, three cats who he somewhat likes, and a multitude of fish.
He rides his Harley in the little spare time that he has.
Jessica is the Children's Services Coordinator for the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, MD.
She has worked in libraries and with children since 2003. Her first introduction to working with therapy
pets was the Reading Tails program at the Govans Branch of the Pratt Library. Since then, she's been a true
believer in the work of volunteer therapy pets and their owners to affect and change lives. She lives in
Idlewylde, MD with her husband and two sweet rescue kitties who make adorable house pets, but likely horrible therapy pets.
TPU Staff
My name is Tina Chase. I am married with one son. I live in Comstock Park, Michigan. I work as a rural carrier for the
United States Postal Service, own a boarding kennel: Chase's Corner kennel, volunteer with TPU as a visiting volunteer,
pet evaluator, and on the facility committee. I own twelve dogs. Ten Chinese Shar Pei and
two German Wirehaired Pointers. Five of my dogs are therapy dogs with TPU. Pet therapy is my passion. I have been active
in pet therapy for 10 years. My goal is to have pets visiting every facility in the United States. Especially our facilities
for veterans. I volunteer 2-3 hours a week with my fur kids. Chinese Shar Pei - JuJu, Cookie, Vivian, and Libby. German
Wirehaired Pointer - Zucker. I have graduated from Animal Behavior College. I am an AKC CGC evaluator. I teach puppy
socialization/confidence building classes, Therapy, Rally, and beginner Agility. I compete AKC conformation and many
performance events, including hunting and weight pulling. With all my dogs. I have a dream to one day run the Iditarod sled
dog race in Alaska.
