We bring joy to chronically and terminally ill children and their families by surrounding them with a Pile of Puppies.
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Appreciation for Pile of Puppies
By ABC
March 10, 2023
A dream come true: A seven year old's wish to be in a pile of police officers and pug puppies at a fire station!
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By ABC
April 15, 2022
In this week’s Everyday Hero, we meet a woman who is helping to spread joy to sick children and their families. She is showing them and the world that through our most challenging times, we can find hope in the smallest things. It's something she knows from her own personal experience.
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By Fox News
July 29, 2019
Pile of Puppies receives the "Be the Change Award"
By Helen Raptis
July 16, 2019
Rianna once had cancer & while in treatment decided when she was better she would surround kids like herself with a Pile of Puppies from her own litter puppies.
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By Blazers
February 9, 2019
February 9, 2019
November 28, 2018
"A young girl who died following a seven-month battle against brain cancer was able to experience some moments of joy with her friends and family when she was visited by a pile of bull mastiff puppies. Non-profit organization Pile of Puppies shared video of Maryn’s special day on November 23. In the video, the young dogs were eager to show the little girl a lot of love with special puppy kisses and cuddles. Maryn’s mother spoke to Pile of Puppies about the visit, saying: "That was the first time in several days that Maryn really perked up. The past seven months have been full of darkness for us, since Maryn was diagnosed with glioblastoma but we have not let that darkness in on us. “We have looked for ways to break through that darkness and find joy. Our family has focused on experiences and making memories over the past several months and I can honestly say we gave it 100%,” she said. “We have some incredible memories and I truly felt like we were able to bring some light into this harrowing situation. We won’t remember the end of Maryn’s life as a battle with cancer, but rather as a time that our family was able to appreciate the opportunities we had and to enjoy every minute we had together,” she added
October 10, 2018
Derrick is battling brain cancer and was surprised with a bundle of puppies at the Portland Timbers office!
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July 6, 2018
"In the beginning your brain decides to make things a lot scarier than it really is. As time goes on you realize even though all good things do come to an end, so do all bad things.” - Wisdom from 10 year old Lilly."
By Via Storyful
July 6, 2018
“In the beginning your brain decides to make things a lot scarier than it really is. As time goes on you realize even though all good things do come to an end, so do all bad things.” - Wisdom from 10 year old Lilly. This powerhouse lost her daddy a year before she was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune/cancer challenge. If you want a good dose of laughter, tears and wisdom, watch this!"
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By Newsner
April 1, 2018
Founder's Story: "Jennifer was once a very sick kid fighting to survive… Today she gives terminally ill children hope."
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By MSN.com
April 4, 2018
Tribute to Holly. Holly's motto, "Love is Everywhere" literally was seen by over a million people around the world. Before she passed away she learned that her last wish to share this motto with the world, truly happened. Rest In Peace beautiful Angel.
By ABC
March 27, 2018
A young girl with terminal cancer has been comforted by a visit from a literal pile of puppies, with photos and video shared on March 26. A litter of miniature bull terrier puppies was brought to Holly’s bedside to gently play with her, and some of the pups took the opportunity to peacefully take a nap beside her. The organisation Pile of Puppies shared images and video from the day, writing, “Pile of Puppies is here to show that grace, suffering, beauty, pain, joy and light can all come together in our last days on this planet. Puppies allow the heart to stay open even when it is breaking apart. Pile of Puppies is more than a pile of puppies….they truly are a healing salve in a time when a glimmer of light is so needed.”
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By Fox News
March 27, 2018
A young girl with terminal cancer has a wish to share her motto, "Love is Everywhere" and her wish was granted as 100's of thousands of people have witnessed her Hospice Pile of Puppies.
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By MSNBC
March 27, 2018
A young girl with terminal cancer has been comforted by a visit from a literal pile of puppies, with photos and video shared on March 26. A litter of miniature bull terrier puppies was brought to Holly’s bedside to gently play with her, and some of the pups took the opportunity to peacefully take a nap beside her.The organisation Pile of Puppies shared images and video from the day, writing, “Pile of Puppies is here to show that grace, suffering, beauty, pain, joy and light can all come together in our last days on this planet. Puppies allow the heart to stay open even when it is breaking apart. Pile of Puppies is more than a pile of puppies….they truly are a healing salve in a time when a glimmer of light is so needed.”
By KGW
March 23, 2018
By Daily Telegraph AU
March 27, 2018
A young girl with terminal cancer has been comforted by a visit from a literal pile of puppies, with photos and video shared on March 26. A litter of miniature bull terrier puppies was brought to Holly’s bedside to gently play with her, and some of the pups took the opportunity to peacefully take a nap beside her. The organisation Pile of Puppies shared images and video from the day, writing, “Pile of Puppies is here to show that grace, suffering, beauty, pain, joy and light can all come together in our last days on this planet. Puppies allow the heart to stay open even when it is breaking apart. Pile of Puppies is more than a pile of puppies….they truly are a healing salve in a time when a glimmer of light is so needed.”
By Julie Evensen
March 23, 2018
Pile of Puppies + Firefighters + Kids on National Puppy Day live stream with Oregonian Live. (It begins at the 22 min mark)
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By NBA.com
March 7, 2018
Blazers + POP = Pure Joy Video!
By NBA.com
February 26, 2018
By Helen Raptis
February 6, 2018
"It's hard not to smile when you see a puppy. Even harder not to laugh when a little furball licks your face. That's why Jennifer Trepanier created Pile of Puppies--to bring a joyful experience to chronically ill children and their families by surrounding them with furry, four-legged love! Helen Raptis got to help out when Pile of Puppies visited the Christopherson-Engh family whose 9-year-old daughter Hayden is fighting osteosarcoma."
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By Faith Brarr
October 19, 2018
Jennifer Thompson Trepanier is no stranger to chronic illnesses. When she was 12, Jennifer was diagnosed with dermatomyositis, a rare disease that caused her immune system to attack her muscles. For months she couldn't get out of bed and even had trouble swallowing. After four years, she finally went into remission, but her early twenties brought a wave of unexplained fevers and joint pains that lasted three years. In light of these treacherous experiences, Jennifer knew she wanted to help people who spent their lives fighting serious illnesses. "I was on Facebook, and I saw this video of puppies being piled on people," Jennifer told TODAY. "I said, that's what I want to bring to people who are sick and dying... a light in the darkness."
By Embry Roberts
October 18, 2016
"Can you think of any problem a literal pile of puppies wouldn’t solve — if only for a few hours? No? Neither can we … and neither could Jennifer Thompson Trepanier of Portland, Oregon. Trepanier founded nonprofit organization Pile of Puppies in hopes of bringing some four-legged comfort and joy to chronically ill children and their families."
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By Rosemarie Stein
February 24, 2016
"A caring friend sought to help ease some of the young girl's pain and stress by matching her up with a litter of puppies owned by Jennifer Brightbill of Brechbuhler Bernese Mountain Dogs of Oregon City. The result was an afternoon of fun and excitement for a very brave little girl (and her sister Ruby, 3) as well as an excellent socialization opportunity for the puppies.“
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By Reporters Troy and Andrea
October 31, 2016
By Jenny Hansson
October 13, 2016
“I went into this for the children, but I came out of it for the mothers,” Trepanier said. “Usually they’re the last one to let go of the puppies.”
