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Providence Hospice Remembers Beloved Therapy Dog Szva

A beloved therapy dog whose gentle presence comforted thousands of people across Central Texas, including hospice and hospital patients, first responders, nursing home residents, schoolchildren, and healthcare professionals, is being remembered for a life devoted to serving others.

Szva, a German Shepherd therapy dog who faithfully served alongside her owner and handler, Alan White, a Purple Heart recipient and Vietnam War veteran, was laid to rest on Monday, July 20, just two months shy of her 12th birthday.

Since 2019, Alan and Szva also volunteered with Providence Hospice, becoming cherished members of the hospice family. Their visits brought comfort to patients and families navigating the end of life, while also offering encouragement to the nurses, aides, chaplains, social workers and volunteers who care for them.

Caring for people at the end of life is both a privilege and an emotional responsibility. On difficult days, Szva’s visits allowed the Providence Hospice team to pause while her quiet presence reminded caregivers that they, too, deserved moments of comfort while walking alongside patients and families.

For White, sharing Szva with others was deeply personal.

After being wounded during the Vietnam War, White spent three months recovering at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, where he witnessed therapy dogs comforting dying service members, grieving families and injured veterans. The experience never left him.

Years later, after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), White welcomed Szva into his life as his service dog. Within six months, she alerted him to undiagnosed diabetes. This instinct would go on to save his life four times by warning him of dangerous drops in his blood sugar.

Inspired by the comfort he had once received, White dedicated himself to bringing that same comfort to others through Szva.

Beginning her therapy work in 2018, Szva dedicated more than eight years to serving communities throughout Central Texas. She completed 1,140 therapy visits to hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, schools, first responders, and hospice patients, earning the American Kennel Club’s Therapy Dog Supreme title after more than 600 visits and the Canines for Christ Royal Ambassador designation after surpassing 1,000 visits. She also served on a Crisis Response Team, providing emotional support following the 2025 Kerrville floods and returning earlier this month for memorial events.

Reflecting on Szva’s life, White shared, “She loved people; she felt their pain and emotions and went to them to offer God’s comfort, peace, joy and love whenever she could.”

“Szva had a remarkable way of bringing peace wherever she went,” said Audie Williams, Senior Director of Providence Hospice. “We were blessed to be one small part of her incredible journey, and we’ll always be grateful to Alan for sharing her with our patients, families and staff.”

Although no dog could ever replace Szva, Alan has already begun training Raven, a young German Shepherd, to continue the work they started together.

Just days after Szva’s passing, Alan brought Raven to visit the Providence Hospice team, a selfless gesture during a time of profound personal loss. The visit brought smiles, comfort, and hope to the staff who had loved Szva so deeply.

While Raven is just beginning her journey as a therapy dog, the Providence Hospice team looks forward to watching her grow under Alan’s guidance and witnessing the legacy of compassion that he and Szva created to continue for years to come.

Interested in volunteering? Volunteers make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and families throughout North & Central Texas. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit www.chot.org/volunteer.

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