Lisa Gupton

Lisa Gupton serves as the Program Coordinator for Paws & Think’s Paws to Heal program. She has been a registered Therapy Team with her 6-year-old Goldendoodle, Lulu, since March 2021. Together, they volunteer weekly at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital and also serve as a Crisis Response Team and READ team, frequently supporting special events and other venues. Lisa also assists with therapy skills classes as a trainer and evaluator.

Lisa understands firsthand the impact of pet therapy. When her son was younger and spent time in the hospital, therapy dogs made a lasting difference for their family. Inspired by that experience, they welcomed Lulu, a “not-so-golden” black Goldendoodle, into their lives and trained her to be a therapy dog. “We wanted to give back,” Lisa shares. “We know from experience that pet therapy can make a huge difference in a patient’s life, and we wanted to share that joy through our dog.”

Lulu is a 73-pound bundle of affection who loves cuddles, attention, and her post-visit pup cups. Smart, sassy, and intuitive, she knows over 100 words and thrives in her role bringing comfort and smiles wherever she goes.

Originally from southwest Missouri, Lisa earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Missouri Southern State University and studied abroad at Cambridge University in England. She went on to receive a Master’s degree in Integrated Biomedical Sciences from the University of Kentucky. Her professional background includes grant writing, marketing, volunteer management, and crisis response, with work published in scientific and community settings. She also served as the area coordinator for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep for six years and ran a successful photography business for eight years.

Lisa and her husband have been married for 18 years and have three children: Grayson, Lilah, and Silas. She enjoys watching her kids play sports and music, cheering at college and professional games, and spending family time hiking and riding roller coasters. When she finds a quiet moment, Lisa enjoys photography, sewing, reading, and planning their next adventure.