December 2025 Spotlight Team: Diana, Bella & Zoey
Pictured L to R: Zoey, Diana and Bella
First name: Diana
Dog’s names: Bella and Zoey
Location: Oklahoma
Welcome to Our Petluv Therapy Team!
When Diana retired from teaching, she knew she wanted to share the comfort and joy of therapy dogs with others. Her Australian Shepherd, Bella, joined the family in 2015 and quickly proved to be a natural. Chosen for her calm and gentle nature, Bella thrived on positive reinforcement, consistency, and socialization. She earned her AKC Canine Good Citizen title and, after tender moments with Diana’s elderly father, it was clear therapy work was her calling. Bella passed her Pet Partners evaluation in 2020 and now, as part of the Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD), she brings calm and connection to hospitals and travelers through the Welcome Waggin’ at Tulsa International Airport.
In 2017, Zoey joined the family—an energetic contrast to steady Bella. After surviving a frightening attack as a puppy, Zoey developed reactivity toward other dogs. Through years of patience and training, she gradually regained her confidence. By 2024, Diana sensed Zoey was ready to try again. To her delight, Zoey passed her ATD evaluation with flying colors, even amid barking dogs and caged cats!
Today, Bella and Zoey are both cherished members of Comfort Canines and the airport’s Welcome Waggin’ team. Bella radiates calm reassurance, while Zoey’s playful spirit and love of belly rubs bring laughter and joy. Together, they balance one another perfectly—Bella the steady heart, Zoey the spark of fun.
Diana says, “Watching them comfort people, from anxious travelers to hospital patients, reminds me why we do this work. They truly make the world a kinder place.”
AUTHOR…
Hi, I’m Karen Simecka - born and raised in Kansas. I retired about 10 years ago from a local hospital as a Surgical Technologist. I have had dogs most of my life - Irish Setters being my favorite breed. I enjoy crafting, quilting, sewing and genealogy; but my real passion revolves around pet therapy.
In 1992, I was working with my local Kennel Club and had been showing Irish for a few years, when I met Jeanene Hoover. She introduced me to the wonderful world of pet therapy, which was just getting started in Topeka. A local veterinarian, Dr. Marvin Samuelson, had a special connection with Hills Pet Foods and was instrumental in bringing people together at the time. Within a year, a new pet therapy organization was created and is still going strong in 2025 - Prairieland Visiting Animals Association (PVAA). It has been an honor and privilege to serve as a Chair Person and Reading with Prairieland Dogs Coordinator (taking care of the program at our local library where kids read to our dogs) for several of those years.
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