Diversity Lies at the Heart of Everything We Do

The human-animal bond is a universal connection that transcends boundaries. It knows no race or identity, and is not bound by socioeconomic background, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. We are more alike than we are different, and at Pet Partners, our approach is based on inclusion. We believe therapy animal interactions can unite. Every individual is worthy of love, respect, dignity, and compassion, and it is our goal to provide access to therapy animal teams that bring heartfelt emotional connection to the communities we serve.

Three young girls pet a therapy guinea pig during a visit in their classroom.
Moo the Guinea pig
Three young girls pet a therapy guinea pig during a visit in their classroom.
Moo the Guinea pig

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Pet Partners

It is imperative that we now recognize and acknowledge health equity and disparities in marginalized communities and ensure that we are purposeful in our efforts to improve the field of AAI. We have focused these efforts into three pillars for our DEI work:

  • Addressing issues of program Accessibility for marginalized communities.
  • Increasing our cultural competency and the capacity for Allyship within our staff and volunteers at all levels.
  • Grounding our goals through the lens of our real-world Impact.

Why do we collect demographic information from our volunteers?

In order to move forward, you must first understand where you are. Collecting demographic information from our volunteers allows Pet Partners to better understand who our volunteers are and how we can make our program more accessible to all potential volunteers interested in our Therapy Animal Program. This information will also help us set a benchmark by which we can measure our progress year over year. Contact us with any questions about Pet Partners' commitment to diversity, equity, & inclusion.