Debbie Caplin has been actively involved with the Duo Dogs organization since 2011 when she and Sookie (her first Touch Therapy dog) were certified for Acute Care as well as the Paws for Reading programs. She graduated from the University of Denver and, after her years spent working as a primary school teacher, has been actively involved in numerous not-for-profit activities. These include her current Board positions at the APA as well as at the Saint Louis Zoo. She also has had a longstanding relationship with the Gateway To Hope breast cancer program and is the Aesthetics’ Center coordinator at Parkcrest Plastic Surgery. Debbie currently has three dogs in the Touch Therapy Program: Charlie, Pippa, and Opie and has spent the past several years providing Touch services to cancer patients at the St. Louis Children’s Hospital as well as the Missouri Baptist Cancer Center and regularly visits Mercy Hospital Children’s Floor. She was also a 2020 recipient of the St. Louis Women of Achievement award and now serves on their board of directors.