Since 2017, Pet Partners has offered a scholarship funded by Dr. Aubrey Fine, named the Magic Award in memory of his therapy dog Magic, to registered volunteers for use in personal/professional development in the field of AAI. In 2022, the scholarship was expanded to include members of our sister organization,…
Originally published March 2020; updated November 2020 As the world deals with the effects of COVID-19, one of the most important mitigation strategies is social distancing: having people distance and isolate themselves to help prevent spread of the virus. This important public health measure means that people are staying home…
We began 2021 with an air of hope, as the development of COVID-19 vaccines offered the possibility of being able to return to more typical activities, including in-person therapy animal visits and the important work that supports those visits. Unfortunately, the rise of new COVID-19 variants and continuing high levels…
The 2019 Pet Partners Conference, Partnering with a Purpose, took place September 20-21 in San Antonio, TX. It was a wonderful opportunity to bring together handlers, professionals in the AAI field, practitioners and facilities, and Pet Partners staff to network, learn, and inspire. The conference was full of informative sessions…
Military veterans are a notable segment of the clients our therapy animal teams serve across the U.S. The impact animal-assisted interventions (AAI) can have for veterans is so significant that in November 2019, Pet Partners signed an agreement with Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to set standards for AAI at VHA…
It's almost April 30, which is National Therapy Animal Day! This special event was created by Pet Partners to recognize and celebrate the amazing work of therapy animals and their handlers. National Therapy Animal Day has several goals: Recognize and honor therapy animals for the amazing work they do. Raise…
Dementia is the umbrella term for general loss of mental abilities that affects an individual’s capability to function and carry out activities of daily living. It most commonly affects older adults, but it is not a normal part of aging. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, characterized…
This post is part of a continuing series on preparing your pet for therapy animal work. Pet Partners knows that training your animal to be a part of a registered therapy animal team can feel like a very big endeavor. To make sure that preparing your animal for the world…
If you’re searching for a reputable program to get started with therapy animal volunteering, look no further. Pet Partners, the leading therapy animal organization in the U.S., is the gold standard for you, your animal, and the people whose lives your team will impact. 1. Top Notch Education and Evaluation…
On November 13, 2019, Pet Partners brought therapy animals to Congress with a new event: Meet the Pets. Hosted in conjunction with the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC), this event gave members of Congress, their staff, and other people on Capitol Hill the opportunity to interact with some Pet…
Therapy animal handlers enjoy volunteering their time to enhance the lives of others, but it’s important that therapy animals are also comfortable doing this work. Many people wonder whether or not therapy animals actually like their jobs. Two recent studies have addressed this question. A 2018 Applied Animal Behaviour Science study found…
Pet Partners has long supported the benefits of animal-assisted interventions for students and in classrooms. We’re always seeking opportunities to bring these benefits to more classrooms and provide more students with the effects of the human-animal bond. In October 2021, we partnered with The Pet Care Trust, a nonprofit organization…
It’s that time once again: September 24, 2022 is the 5th annual Pet Partners World’s Largest Pet Walk presented by Wellness Pet Company! Last year's event was the largest to date. This year, we want to go the extra mile and have an even BIGGER event! We're excited to have…
The Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program has been dedicated since the beginning to bringing therapy animals to people who can most benefit. For more than three decades our dedicated volunteer teams have been bringing the power of the human-animal bond to people in healthcare settings of all kinds. As the…
Pet Partners is committed to improving human health and well-being through the human-animal bond, and this includes finding new ways to bring the effects of therapy animals to people who can benefit. Walk With Me is a special initiative within the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program for teams who would…
Holding the title of therapy animal handler is an honor unlike any other. As a handler, you are able to build a profound bond with your therapy animal, as well as spread the joy of that bond to others in your community. The depth of this bond is what makes…
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a mental health disorder that develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Post-traumatic stress disorder can affect both children and adults. Events that can lead to PTSD include the following: Being involved in a vehicle crash, terrorist attack, or natural disaster. Being abused,…
