If you’re interested in learning more about the world of animal-assisted interventions, you’re in the right place! The first step to understanding animal-assisted interventions is to have a grasp on the terminology. With animal-assisted interventions gaining popularity, more and more terms have been created to attempt to describe these services.…
Pet Partners therapy animal teams visit in a huge variety of facilities and environments. While people most often think of hospital visits and reading programs as settings for therapy animals, there’s really no limit to the places where therapy animal teams can have an impact. We want to share more…
There’s no way to avoid dramatic statements as we look back on 2020: This was the most extraordinary year in the history of Pet Partners, as it has been for so much of the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed life and activities for everyone, and the year we’ve ended…
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…
Dr. Leo Bustad was one of the founders of Pet Partners (then called Delta Society). His influence on the field of animal-assisted interventions was major, going beyond his role in founding our organization. In this guest post, Dr. Alan Beck shares some thoughts on Dr. Bustad’s influence and his memories…
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…
We know that our canine companions can lighten the mood, make us laugh, and generally improve our quality of life. But is it true that they can actually decrease pain? The growing body of research on AAI supports the use of animal-assisted activities and animal-assisted therapies for pain relief. Whether…
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…
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…
The Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program was originally designed to bring the benefits of therapy animals to people through in-person interactions, and this model has allowed our teams serve their communities for decades. The COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions on in-person gatherings presented a major challenge to this model of…
Volunteer Appreciation Week 2020 is April 19-25, an opportunity for organizations all over the country to show our gratitude to the volunteers who support our work. At Pet Partners, our mission is built on the efforts of thousands of volunteers across the U.S. and more than a dozen other countries.…
