Pet Partners Pet of the Year
Does your dog stand out from the rest of the pack? Is your feline friend known for their amazing cat-itude? Perhaps your horse is ready to gallop into a new role!


Does your dog stand out from the rest of the pack? Is your feline friend known for their amazing cat-itude? Perhaps your horse is ready to gallop into a new role!
Darby, a Miniature Horse from Kamuela, HI raised more than $17,000 in support of Pet Partners during the competition. Darby and his favorite human Lynn, a Pet Partners Team Evaluator, are also a registered Pet Partners therapy animal team who love visiting patients and staff at Queens North Hawaii Community Hospital. Darby also loves going to local schools to spend quality time with kids. As a fun challenge for the competition, Darby encouraged supporters to teach him Irish dance steps to get in the spirit for St. Patrick’s Day! Connections they have made through visiting and sharing their story on TV played a big part in his win as Pet of the Year.
This exciting six-week fundraising competition runs from early March through mid-April and gives us an opportunity to celebrate the animals we love, while also supporting a great cause. Funds raised by pet candidates (with help from their favorite humans) will support the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program. This amazing program brings unconditional love, happiness, and healing to millions of seniors, patients, veterans, and children in need all around the world each year.
The national title of “Pet Partners Pet of the Year” is awarded to the pet whose fundraising team raises the most funds during the six-week competition. You can follow the fundraising teams on social media by searching for #pppetoftheyear. The winner will be crowned at the close of the competition and awarded thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes* for their efforts!
*The IRS requires that we report the value of some prizes and may be considered taxable income. We encourage winners to consult with their tax advisor.
Please note: In adherence with Pet Partners’ high standards for animal welfare and client safety, if your pet is currently participating in volunteer therapy animal visits, you must be a registered Pet Partners team to compete.