Pet Partners Pet of the Year 2026: Boo the Cockatoo Makes History
04/30/2026
Pet Partners Pet of the Year 2026 Is Boo, the Cockatoo
Congratulations to Boo, Your 2026 Pet Partners Pet of the Year!
The 2026 Pet Partners Pet of the Year fundraiser has officially wrapped, bringing together a passionate community united by a shared belief in the healing power of animals.
Over six weeks from March 2 to April 13, supporters across the country rallied behind therapy animal teams, raising essential funds to advance the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program and expand access to visits nationwide.
At its core, Pet of the Year is more than a fundraiser. It is a nationwide celebration of the human-animal bond and the meaningful role therapy animal teams play in supporting health, connection, and well-being.
This year, more than 148 therapy animal candidates took part, representing a diverse range of species, including 114 dogs, 18 cats, five rabbits, three llamas/alpacas, three guinea pigs, one equine, one bird, one pig, one mouse, and one domestic rat. With the support of their handlers, each candidate shared their story and inspired their communities to give.
Together, this collective effort raised $158,275, the highest total in Pet of the Year history.
These contributions will directly support the preparation and registration of therapy animal teams, uphold strong standards for animal welfare, and help bring safe, impactful visits to people who need them most.
Meet Your 2026 Pet of the Year
Boo the cockatoo and his favorite human, Amy, of Smithfield, Virginia, mark our first bird winner EVER and the highest fundraising team in Pet of the Year history!
Alongside Amy, Boo led an inspiring campaign, raising more than $33,675 and engaging a wide network of supporters along the way.
Their journey reflects what makes Pet Partners volunteers so impactful: commitment, compassion, and a deep connection between handler and animal.
Amy, an Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialist, has been volunteering with Pet Partners since 2025. Boo has overcome an extraordinary series of challenges that make his story as powerful as his therapy work. He was rescued from a situation of abuse and neglect and lost his eyesight entirely. He lived in darkness for more than a decade before undergoing groundbreaking surgery that restored his vision.
Despite these hardships, Boo not only adapted but thrived, becoming a registered therapy bird who now brings comfort to people in need, demonstrating remarkable resilience and a capacity to heal others that mirrors his own journey of recovery.
Together, Boo and Amy support animal-assisted education and work with individuals on the autism spectrum and people with disabilities. They also regularly participate in youth group visits, hand therapy sessions, and occupational therapy programs supporting stroke recovery.
Boo’s fundraising campaign began with a strong community presence at the Super Pet Expo, where they connected with approximately 15,000 people over three days. They also hosted booths at a local farmers market, running 50/50 raffles and engaging the community through a variety of donated items and activities. Additional fundraising efforts included a community event called Brews with Boo, featuring signature drinks, a photo booth, and other activities, as well as handcrafted jewelry created specifically to support the campaign.
Throughout the campaign, Amy also shared Boo’s story through thoughtful and consistent social media outreach across Facebook and Instagram.
Boo represents the very best of what the human-animal bond can achieve.
In recognition of their achievement, Boo and Amy will receive:
- A professional photoshoot
- A feature on “Oh Behave!” Show and the Four-Legged Life podcast with America’s Pet Edu-Tainer, Arden Moore
- His likeness on the 2026 National Pet Partners T-shirt
- Additional pet-themed prizes from generous sponsors
We are honored to celebrate their dedication and the impact they continue to make in their community.
Recognizing This Year’s Top Fundraisers
The success of this campaign reflects the dedication of participants across the country. We are proud to recognize this year’s runners-up for their outstanding efforts.
Second Place: Legend’s Pet Partners Community and Liz Jenkins and Rosie
With a total of $21,532 raised, Legend’s Pet Partners Community, captained by Liz Jenkins and Rosie of El Mirage, Arizona, secured second place through a thoughtful and engaging campaign.
This incredible group took teamwork to the next level, building a 12-person fundraising committee and rallying their community in honor and memory of a beloved Rainbow Bridge therapy pet, Legend, who started it all in their community.
Through creative social media storytelling and an impressive lineup of events, including farmers market fundraisers, dog friendly celebrations, and local business collaborations, they brought their community together in a big way. Because of their efforts, they helped raise awareness of the meaningful role therapy animal teams play in communities every day.
Third Place: River and Katy Rahe
Earning third place, River and Katy Rahe from Norwalk, Connecticut raised $16,291 in support of the Pet Partners mission.
If their names look familiar, that’s because River was our 2025 Pet of the Year first place winner, a testament to this team’s commitment to the Pet Partners mission of supporting human health and well-being through the human-animal bond. Katy has also been a dedicated volunteer since 2019 and an active evaluator. As a team, they bring comfort and connection to senior living facilities, hospitals, schools, and community groups.
This incredible team received 154 donations to support the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program. From a successful boutique shopping event to a thoughtful email campaign and engaging social media presence, they truly rallied their community.
Honorable Mentions
In addition to our top fundraisers, we are proud to recognize the many incredible participants who contributed to this year’s success.
Our Spotlight Award recipients and honorable mentions raised between $249 and more than $10,000. While they may not have taken the top title, their dedication, creativity, and passion helped make this campaign truly impactful.
You can find the full list of Spotlight Award winners and Honorable Mentions online.
To every participant who shared their story, reached out to their community, and supported the Therapy Animal Program, thank you. Whether you raised $10 or $10,000, your efforts made a difference.
Why It Matters
Pet of the Year is a celebration of the human-animal bond and the role therapy animal teams play in communities across the country.
Every dollar raised supports the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program and helps:
- Prepare and support volunteers
- Register therapy animal teams
- Promote animal welfare
- Deliver safe, meaningful visits in healthcare, education, and community settings
Because of this support, more people can experience the comfort of a gentle nudge, the reassurance of a calm presence, and the connection that only a therapy animal can provide.
Save the Date for 2027
This year’s campaign showed what is possible when a community comes together around a shared purpose.
Nominations for the 2027 Pet of the Year campaign will open in January 2027. We look forward to welcoming new participants, celebrating more stories, and continuing to grow this incredible community.
Whether you plan to nominate your animal, support a team, or follow along, we hope you will be part of what comes next.
Thank You
Thank you to every participant, supporter, and donor who made the 2026 Pet of the Year campaign a success.
We also extend our gratitude to our prize sponsors, whose support helped us recognize and celebrate our winners.
Most of all, we thank the therapy animals and handlers who make this work possible every day. Through their dedication, compassion, and partnership, they bring comfort, connection, and care to people who need it most. You can rewatch the 2026 Pet of the Year Spotlight Awards to get an overview of all the great pets and people that participated this year.
Congratulations again to Boo, your 2026 Pet Partners Pet of the Year.
