Gayle Igarashi grew up on a sugar plantation in Waipahu with many animals: ducks, dogs, cats, birds, turtles, fish and rabbits. "I had a freshwater stream in my backyard," says Igarashi. "Now I miss it." Igarashi's love for animals began as a young girl and it hasn't stopped.

She is the founder of Tails of Aloha, an animal assisted therapy organization run by dedicated volunteers on O'ahu, Maui, the Big Island and even in Yokohama, Japan.

For 17 years, she's worked tirelessly funding the organization to bring animals to nursing facilities. During those years, that meant doing without such things as trips, going to restaurants, new clothes and a new car. But she didn't mind. "Those funds could be better used for the animals," says Igarashi.

In 2006, help finally came. She received a $10,000 donation from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. That money was used for basic supplies and bringing a therapy group to Hawai'i to teach classes for volunteers.

Last year, Tails of Aloha received their nonprofit status. All donations are now tax-deductible.

The organization has more than 400 therapy animals ranging from birds, dogs, cats, rabbits and even miniature horses. There are more than 50 active teams that visit hospital and care facilities.

I was invited to observe a team at a nursing facility on a recent Sunday morning. A team of eight volunteers and their dogs arrived early, eager to work.

As they walked through the corridors, the unusual sight of dogs on leashes and some in strollers caused patients' eyes to brighten, smiles to widen and laughter to follow. Even the nursing staff stopped what they were doing to pet the dogs.

A gentlemen in his wheelchair petted Hope and Kimi, two beautiful golden retrievers owned by Paul Marietti and Gail Shiraishi.

"I have dogs at home, but they're little dogs, not real dogs like these," the man said.

Marietti and Shiraishi are active members, never missing a week to spread joy to the frail and lonely.

An elderly bedridden woman yelled from her bed, "Bring the dogs in here. Please come here. I want to see the dogs." As volunteer Lisa Oi put her female Chihuahua Maya on her bed, the woman grasped the little dog and nuzzled her furry head. "I used to have a dog at home that I loved very much," she said. When it was time to leave, she said, "Please come back to visit me." Oi reassured her that she and Maya would be back in two weeks.

A stroke patient couldn't say much, but you could see the excitement on his face as the dogs came near. He grinned brightly and made sounds to show how happy he was. Karen Soon put little Noe, her petite Chihuahua, next to his face, and he tried to kiss Noe several times.

Another elderly woman unashamedly giggled at the cute little dogs being wheeled in the stroller. She was amazed by their little outfits. "Kawaii" she exclaimed (meaning cute in Japanese) while she shed a few tears. Happy, the Pomeranian, was wearing a pink Burberry dress. Noe wore an aloha print sundress.

Babe, the familiar two-legged Chihuahua, along with owners Warren and Candy Hoopii and their other two dogs Jiji and Happy, are also Tails of Aloha therapy members. Babe is only 3 pounds so she's fun to carry and she's a big hit among the patients.

Ryna Yamada brings Smokey, a black Pomeranian, and Mocha, a Chihuahua-terrier mix, to visit the elderly regularly too. She knows her dogs are comfortable around patients and says they look forward to "working."

On O'ahu, the Tails of Aloha teams visit One Kalakaua, Maluhia Hospital, Leahi Hospital, Hospice Hawaii, Kaiser Hospital, Aloha Nursing & Rehab Center and Castle Medical Center.

Besides visiting nursing facilities, Tails of Aloha also rehomes animals when owners become ill or lose their homes. They assist organizations, such as K-9 Kokua, in feeding animals of homeless people on the Leeward Coast, and the Oahu SPCA. The group recently created a reading program using animals for children with dyslexia. The organization has won numerous awards for its work in animal therapy.

It takes an incredible team to reach all of these facilities weekly. They are looking for more volunteers (with or without pets) to visit facilities as well people who can help with grant writing and professionals in accounting and legal issues. And there is always a need for monetary donations to continue their work. If you can help, please e-mail: info@tailsofaloha.com or visit the Web site at: www.tailsofaloha.com.

Animal lover Leslie Kawamoto has been with the Advertiser for 19 years, or 133 in dog years. Check out her blog at www.HonoluluAdvertiser.com/Blogs.