After decades of visiting Vail, Cyndee Purdy and her husband, Tim, made the valley their permanent home in January 2021, relocating from Long Island during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their journey to Vail was more than a change of scenery—it was a return to purpose.
Cyndee’s passion for service began early. Growing up near Rome in upstate New York, she often accompanied her mother, a psychiatric social worker, on home visits. She was captivated by the guide dogs that supported her mother’s blind clients—an experience that planted the seed for a lifelong commitment to volunteerism.
While raising three children on Long Island, Cyndee embraced pet therapy, visiting psychiatric hospitals with her Labrador retriever. Her children followed her example, volunteering with the Special Olympics and other causes. “Volunteering has always been part of our family,” she shares.
When the family relocated to Vail, they brought their tradition of service. Libra, their current therapy dog, was initially raised by Cyndee’s son while he attended a military academy. Sponsored by the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs, Libra went on to have 35 puppies—half of which became guide dogs for individuals who are blind or veterans. Though Libra’s role as a mother to future guide dogs was remarkable, her second career as a therapy dog would prove equally meaningful.
Cyndee discovered this new calling when she received her COVID-19 vaccine at the Eagle Healthcare Center. There she met volunteer Patty and her therapy dog, watching as the pair brought visible relief to anxious patients waiting for their shots. “I want to do this,” Cyndee recalls thinking immediately. She soon learned about the Pet Partners program and enrolled in their rigorous 21-step certification process for therapy animals.
Today, Cyndee and Libra bring comfort and joy to patients at Vail Health Hospital, Shaw Cancer Center, Jack’s Place, and the newly opened Precourt Healing Center. “Volunteering with Libra makes my day. I plan my week around our visits,” Cyndee says.
One moment stands out vividly: a young woman at the Precourt Healing Center was initially afraid of Libra and hesitant to engage. Cyndee gently offered stickers and a bookmark. When they returned five days later, the transformation was profound—the young woman knew Libra’s name, brushed her coat, and spent an hour in joyful connection. “Libra has a calming presence,” Cyndee reflects. “Working with psychiatric patients is deeply rewarding.”
Libra’s visits are interactive—patients walk her through the halls, play games, and share quiet moments of connection. After each hospital round, Libra instinctively tugs left out of the elevator, knowing a pupuccino from Starbucks awaits. The therapy work extends beyond the hospital. During the Derby Fire and the Wounded Warrior gathering at Arrowhead, Cyndee and Libra provided emotional support to first responders and veterans.
Vail Health currently has four active volunteers with certified dogs, and a fifth in training. Cyndee encourages others to explore volunteering, noting that Pet Partners certifies not only dogs, but also cats, ponies, and even pigs, though only dogs visit the hospital. Additional clearance is required for volunteering in the Precourt Healing Center, and Cyndee expects a second team to be certified in a few months. “Whether you live here year-round or just part of the time, there’s always a way to get involved,” she says.
For Cyndee, every visit brings new experiences. “When I come home, I can’t wait to tell Tim how it went. Volunteering with Libra lights up my life—and the lives of everyone we meet.”