Pet Partners Pet of the Year 2025: River the Golden Retriever

Meet River, Your 2025 Pet Partners Pet of the Year!

The 2025 Pet Partners Pet of the Year fundraiser has wrapped up, and what an incredible six weeks it was. From March 3 to April 14, hundreds of pet lovers across the country came together to celebrate the animals in our lives while raising vital funds to support therapy animal teams through the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program.

This year’s event featured more than 130 therapy animal candidates: dogs, cats, birds, guinea pigs, rabbits, pigs, llamas, alpacas, horses, and even a rat. Each pet and their human shared their story, reached out to supporters, and inspired donations to bring the healing power of therapy animals to more people.

Together, our candidates raised $81,276! These donations will help register new teams, support animal welfare, and make safe therapy animal visits possible for people in need across the country.

And the Pet of the Year is…

River, a lovable Golden Retriever from Connecticut, is your 2025 Pet Partners Pet of the Year! River and his handler, Katy Rahe, went above and beyond to share their journey as a therapy animal team.

River and Katy raised over $14,000 during the campaign, fueled by their love of volunteering and desire to make a difference.

As a Pet Partners therapy animal team, River and Katy visit hospitals, senior living facilities, and schools. River’s gentle presence brings comfort and joy to everyone he meets. Whether listening patiently to young readers or offering support in hospitals, River is a shining example of the human-animal bond in action.

Because of their outstanding efforts, River and Katy will receive:

• A professional photoshoot
• A feature on the “Oh Behave!” Show and the Four-Legged Life podcast with America’s Pet Edu-Tainer, Arden Moore
• Their likeness on the 2025 National Pet Partners T-shirt
• Additional pet-themed prizes from our generous sponsors

We’re incredibly proud of River and Katy and grateful for the heart they’ve put into this journey. Congratulations!

Meet the Runners-Up

Second Place: Koda-the-Sidekick and Stacy Coventry

Koda, known as Koda-the-Sidekick, earned second place with handler Stacy Coventry, raising $6,365. Stacy and Koda joined the campaign to raise awareness of the incredible work Pet Partners teams do every day. Stacy encouraged donations in honor or memory of loved ones, reminding us that every gift supports healing and connection.

Third Place: Ruby Leonard and Ellen Leonard

Ruby Leonard, a tiny but mighty therapy Chihuahua, and her handler Ellen Leonard raised $6,312.36 to secure third place. Ellen shared how Ruby’s intuitive spirit makes her unforgettable in hospitals, senior homes, and schools. Recently certified as an Animal-Assisted Crisis Response dog, Ruby’s impact is truly remarkable.

Honorable Mentions

While we celebrate our top fundraisers, we also want to recognize the many pets and people who earned honorable mentions for their amazing efforts.

Our Spotlight Award recipients and honorable mentions raised anywhere from $100 to more than $10,000. These pets may not have taken the top title, but they absolutely won our hearts and helped make this campaign a success.

You can find the full list of Spotlight Award winners and Honorable Mentions online.

Thank you to every pet and person who shared their story, reached out to their communities, and helped support the Therapy Animal Program. Whether you raised $10 or $10,000, your efforts matter. You are helping people across the country experience the comfort, connection, and joy of a therapy animal visit.

Why It Matters

Pet of the Year is more than a competition—it’s a celebration of the human-animal bond. Every dollar raised supports the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program. Your gifts help us:

• Train and support volunteers
• Register therapy animal teams
• Ensure animal welfare
• Provide safe, meaningful visits across the country

Thanks to our fundraisers, more people can experience the comfort of a gentle nudge, a wagging tail, or a quiet moment of connection.

Save the Date for 2026

This year was amazing, and we’re already looking ahead.

Mark your calendars! The 2026 Pet of the Year nominations open in Fall 2025, and we can’t wait to see who steps up next.

Whether you want to nominate your pet, support a team, or cheer on our incredible therapy animals, we hope you’ll be part of the fun.

Thank You

Thank you to every participant, supporter, and donor who made the 2025 Pet of the Year campaign such a success.

Special thanks to our prize sponsors, who helped us recognize and reward our winners.

And most of all, thank you to the therapy animals who inspire us every single day. Whether visiting a child, comforting a veteran, or brightening someone’s day—you show us what’s possible when we lead with compassion and care. You can rewatch the 2025 Spotlight Awards and Celebration Event or watch the 2025 Pet of the Year Wrap Up video that highlights all the special moments of our 2025 fundraising competition in less than three minutes!

Congratulations again to River, our 2025 Pet Partners Pet of the Year!