Comet And KayleeAn Uncommon Therapy Team

2013 Annual Report

Things We Like

Around The CountryStories of lives im

proved by positive human &

animal interactions.

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I N T E R A C T I O N S M A G A Z I N E

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BOARD LISTBrenda Bax, ChairMary Craig, DVM, MBA Vice ChairRaquel Lackey, CPA, CMA, CFE, TreasurerJackie Gunby, SecretaryJack Barron, Jr.Winona Burgess, DVM, MBA, CPALynnette Eastlake, MBAStacey EvansDr. Aubrey Fine, EdDLaird Goodman, DVMDr. Rebecca A. Johnson, PhD, RN, FAAN, FNAPDerrick KraemerLaird PistoProfessor Phillip Tedeschi

HONORARY BOARD LISTSophie Engelhard Craighead, ChairMarty Becker, DVMNan BushKathy Vignos FolsonCarol and Scott GlennLinda HackettChandi HeffnerKaren LeFrakCarolynn D. LoackerElise B. LufkinWilliam McCulloch, DVMMary Tyler MooreVictoria NewhouseJeannie NordstromJane Dale OwenAnnette de la RentaJonah ShacknaiSarah W. SweattIrving Taylor, MDDave UnderrinerBruce WeberAndrew Weil, MD Betty WhiteJoanne Woodward

PUBLICATION CREDITSEditor: Glen MillerContributors: Kris Betker, Katharine W. Harding, Paula Scott, Alexandra SifferlinGraphic Design: Wolken CommunicaCover Photography: Dani Weiss

Pet Partners425.679.5500info@petpartners.orgwww.petpartners.org

Pet Partners, a leader in promoting the health benefits of the human-animal bond, is pleased to announce a new sponsorship from PetSmart, the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets.

Pet Partners’ Therapy Animal Program registers and supports volunteers with their pets as therapy teams to visit people in hospitals, nursing homes, schools and other facilities in their community. A national nonprofit, Pet Partners offers top quality visiting pet programs with training opportunities that prepare our volunteers to succeed.

Pet Partners is committed to creating training tools relevant to the situations, individuals and challenges our volunteers may be faced with as they conduct ani-mal-assisted interactions.

PetSmart’s sponsorship will help support enhanced training and continuing education by Pet Partners to 11,000 volunteer therapy animal teams. “Pet Partners

is proud to partner with the world-renowned retailer, PetSmart,” said Brenda Bax, Pet Partners’ Board Chair. “We hope to further develop this relationship with the intent of benefiting the clients we serve, our volunteers and the animals that give us all comfort and happiness.”

PetSmart was able to provide this donation through its PetSmart Gives Back initiative. PetSmart Gives Back partners with national and local organizations that enrich the lives of people through the power of pets.

“At PetSmart, caring about pets, people and our communities is at the heart of everything we do,” said David Lenhardt, PetSmart Chief Executive Officer. “We’re proud to partner with Pet Partners in an effort to help more people heal through the power of pets.”

CONTENTSPetSmart Sponsorship 1

Comet And Kaylee 2

2013 Annual Report 15

Philia’s Friend 19

The Dog Will See You Now 20

DepartmentsAround The Country 4

Saying Goodbye 22

Things We Like 25

Honor and Memorial Donations 26

Pet Partners is required to file financial information with several states. Ten of those states will provide copies to their residents upon request:

California: Pet Partners is registered as ‘Pet Partners Therapy Animals’ in the state of California.

Florida: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGIS-TRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE, WITHIN THE STATE, 1-800-HELP-FLA. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSE-MENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. CH3226.

Maryland: For the cost of copies and postage, Office of the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401.

Mississippi: The official registration and financial information of Pet Partners may be obtained from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office by calling 1-888-236-6167. Registration by the Secretary of State does not imply endorsement.

Missouri: Pet Partners is registered as ‘Pet Partners Nonprofit Corporation’ in the state of Missouri.

New Jersey: INFORMATION FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCERNING THIS CHARITABLE SOLICITATION and the percent-age of contributions received by the charity during the last reporting period that were dedicated to the charitable purpose MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY BY CALLING 973-504-6215 and is available on the internet at www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/ocp.htm#charity. REGISTRATION WITH THE ATTORNEY GEN-ERAL DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT.

New York: Office of the Attorney General, Department of Law, Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.

North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 1-888-830-4989. The license is not an endorsement by the state. Pet Partners is reg-istered as ‘Pet Partners Nonprofit Corporation’ in North Carolina.

North Dakota: Pet Partners is registered as ‘Pet Partners Therapy Animals’ in North Dakota.

Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of Pet Partners may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

Virginia: State Division of Consumer Affairs, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Ser-vices, PO Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218.

Washington: Charities Division, Office of the Secretary of State, State of Washington, Olym-pia, WA 98504-0422, 1-800-332-4483.

West Virginia: Residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305.

REGISTRATION WITH A STATE AGENCY DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THAT STATE.

Pet Partners Announces PetSmart Sponsorship

About PetSmartPetSmart, Inc. (NASDAQ: PETM) is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. The company employs approximately 53,000 associates and operates more than 1,333 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, over 199 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities and is a leading online provider of pet supplies and pet care information (http://www.petsmart.com). PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and pet products; and offers dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart Doggie Day Camp SM day care services and pet adoption services. Through its in-store pet adoption partnership with PetSmart Chari-ties® and PetSmart Charities® of Canada, PetSmart has helped save the lives of more than 5.7 million pets since 1994. PetSmart Charities, Inc. and PetSmart Charities of Canada (collectively “PetSmart Charities”) are independent, nonprofit organizations that save the lives of homeless pets and reduce shelter intake through spay and neuter efforts. In 2013, nearly 440,000 dogs and cats found homes through PetSmart Charities’ adoption centers in all PetSmart stores and by sponsoring community adop-tion events. PetSmart Charities is the leader in granting money to help pets in need, with more than $34 million given in 2013 throughout North America.

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The minivan in the McDonald’s drive-through line looked like any other until it reached the window and the cashier got a peek inside. Reclining in the back of the van was a 275 -pound llama named Comet, patiently waiting for Kaylee, his owner, to hand over the apple slices.

The two are very close. Comet and Kaylee met when the llama was only five days old – small enough for her to pick him up and carry him around. Kaylee had been helping out on a farm, and watched as the young black and white llama struggled to grow. His breeder wasn’t convinced he would make it because he was so small; Comet was so passive, the other baby llamas pushed him out of the food bucket. At about four months of age, Comet started getting sick. And even though he eventually learned to stand his ground while eating – planting himself right in the trough – Kaylee knew he would do better on his own.

So when he was 10 months old, Comet went home with Kaylee, who had already raised alpacas on the family farm for a number of years. Comet started gaining weight and grew into a gentle, curious three-year-old, who loves to bob his head up and down in a minivan ver-sion of hide and seek.

Kaylee, a senior at Tahoma High School in Maple Valley, Wash-ington, connected with llama guru Niki Kuklenski through 4-H, and got hooked on the idea of training Comet to be a therapy animal.

“Comet is so laid back, he seemed like he would be perfect for therapy work,” Kaylee said.

Niki and her husband Jeff own JNK Llamas in Bellingham, and Niki has been showing llamas since the mid-80s. She

owns three registered therapy llamas, including two that were recently evaluated at Pet Partners in Bellevue. Niki wrote the animal therapy evaluation criteria Pet Partners uses for llamas, and was on hand to advise as seven llama teams – including Comet and Kaylee – went through the testing process.

Mary Margaret Callahan, Pet Partners’ National Director for Pro-gram Development, said 12 llama teams are now registered with Pet Partners, and she is excited about adding more to the agency’s pool of registered therapy animal teams. Dogs, cats and miniature horses make up the majority of Pet Partners teams, but Callahan says llamas are unique.

“There is definitely a surprise factor,” she said. “I know that if I were recuperating somewhere and a llama walked in, it would certainly take my mind off of things.”

During the evaluation, each of the llamas and their handlers went through a checklist of fixed criteria and role-playing exercises to see whether the teams are ready to do therapy visits in nursing

homes, hospitals and other settings.

Both handlers and their llamas were evalu-ated on such things as walking through a crowd, backing up, standing in place for 30 seconds, staying calm in busy and noisy environments, and dealing with exuberant strangers. They even were tested to see how they would respond when a dog entered the room, and whether they could walk past a bou-quet of flowers without stopping to investigate.

Mary Stratton, one of three Pet Partners evaluators that day, said she was essentially looking for three things: “Do I feel safe? Does the animal team inspire con-

fidence? And is the animal reliable, predictable, and controllable?”

The Bellevue evaluation was only Mary’s second with llamas – one of the challenges in increasing the number of registered teams is finding evaluators who are willing to take it on “As evaluators, we just have to remember that we’re representing the public, and in a way, it’s best if we don’t know how the animals are supposed to behave,” she explained. “Because if I’m nervous, knowing nothing, that’s not inspiring confi-dence. I think that’s the biggest takeaway I have.”

Llamas that pass are determined to be either “Complex” or “Predictable,” based on their score. The ratings indicate where the teams can go: a “Complex” rating means the llama is registered to visit any setting, while a “Predictable” rating includes limitations. Once approved, the llama teams must be re-evaluated every two years.

Niki said one of the reasons llamas are a great addition to animal therapy teams is that they tend to be aloof, which can be reassuring to someone who isn’t used to being around animals. They also have a way of sensing the needs of others and are intuitive and curious with new people and surroundings.

Niki tells the story of a visit to Camp Korey in Washington state, which serves families dealing with childhood illness and serious medical conditions. She and one of her therapy llamas met a young child who was confined to a blanket on the floor. Niki’s llama got on his knees and crawled up to the child, sitting down on the blanket with him.

During another visit, Niki and her llama, Flight, spent time with a group of kids with skeletal dysplasia who were unable to reach up and pet her.

“Flight laid down with them for an hour and a half,” Niki said. “She let all of them sit and pet her. She knew they couldn’t reach her.”

Acclimating llamas to a variety of environments is a significant part of training them for therapy visits, and Kaylee and Comet have visited parks and other public settings. But it was a recent visit to a nursing home that made the biggest impact.

“It was really rewarding seeing people respond – their eyes would just light up,” Kaylee said.

Kaylee’s grandmother recently started a homeless shelter, and Kaylee is eager to begin taking Comet to visit the residents; sharing the comfort that llamas can bring to people who are going through hard times.

Unfortunately, although Comet did fairly well during his first evaluation, he didn’t quite make the cut and the pair will have to come back and try again. Kaylee said she was a little nervous during the testing and that Comet likely picked up on her feelings. She isn’t deterred, and plans to keep practicing until they’re an official Pet Partners team.

Meanwhile, Kaylee has begun taking classes at Green River Community College and is planning to become a veterinary techni-cian – hopefully attending Washington State University.

Also in her future is a commitment to sharing Comet with as many people as possible as a Pet Partners team.

“I love the happiness that animals bring. I want to spread that to other people,” she said.

COMET AND KAYLEEAn Uncommon Therapy Team

Photography by Dani Weiss

By Kris Betker

“I know that if I were recuperating somewhere and a llama walked in, it would certainly take my mind off of things.”

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AROUND THE COUNTRY

PET PARTNERS TEAMS AT WORK

Northeast Carol Soeldner and Buzz Paws for People - Boston, MassachusettsCarol Soeldner, a member of Pet Partners’ Massachusetts affiliate Paws for People, was asked to participate in “healing” sessions organized by the Boston Athletic Association and the Red Cross after the Boston Marathon bombings last year.

During the sessions, four teams were positioned in different areas of the auditorium, with Carol and Buzz in the front. Other teams (left to right) were Lisa Freeman with Penny, Debbie Linder, April Paul with Turtle, and Sarah Gardner with Mia. The other teams stayed outside to provide comfort during session breaks. A team of mental health professionals from the Federal Department

of Public Health helped with the event, along with members of the Red Cross disaster unit. The psychiatrist led an active discussion with the 40 participants who were primarily medical professionals. All had been volunteers during the marathon, and five were stationed very close to where the bombs went off. Session participants learned that during the first 22 minutes following the explosion, 97 people were triaged and safely evacuated to hospitals.

Carol reports that it was a very emotional discussion. One of the participants spent the entire session petting Buzz – a woman Carol learned was the doctor who had led the medical teams at the finish line. She thanked Carol for being there, and said Buzz’s presence really helped her relax.

The session in the auditorium lasted nearly two hours and the teams received very positive feedback about having the dogs present. Carol said, “it hit home to me that no matter what I do with my dogs, how many titles they earn and at which end, by far the most important one is the AKC Therapy Dog title that we earned together – Trixie, Banjo and now Buzz. We sure stepped out of our comfort zone that night, and Buzz rose to the occasion.”

Patricia Garland and Dolly New Haven, Connecticut

Dolly, an 8-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi, has visited Connecticut Hospice and Yale New Haven Hospital with her handler Patricia Garland every week for more than five years. During one visit in the Neuro-Science wing of the hospital, a nurse suggested that Patricia and Dolly visit one particular patient. When the team walked into the room, they found a man seated in a chair with his head drooped. His wife looked up and smiled sadly, shook her head, and said her husband probably would not respond to Dolly, but it might be worth a try. “I took hold of the still unresponsive man’s hand,” said Patricia, “gently placing it on the dog. Before I knew it, the patient lifted his head and began to speak. He had severe aphasia, so I could understand nothing of what he said. But he was smiling, addressing Dolly, and it didn’t matter. His wife looked on in amazement. And with tears in her eyes, she proclaimed that this was the first time in a month that she had seen her husband react to anything.”

Therapy Dogs Provide Comfort and Affection to Tufts Students During Exams Reprinted with permission from Tufts University School of Arts & Sciences news

It was insanely fabulous,” says Laurie Sabol, Tisch Library Instruction Coordinator, of the crowd of students who showed up on Friday, December 13 to play with four dogs, brought in to help students de-stress during exam week. “We thought twenty or thirty students would show up and instead we had over 200,” said Megan Kiely Mueller, Research Assistant Professor at Tufts’ Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, who coordinated with Sabol on the project.

The dogs—Jett, Penn, Sophie and Ben E.—are part of Paws for People, the Cummings School affiliate of Pet Partners, a national organization that registers therapy animals.

Among the faculty and staff from both campuses who joined the students, were Cummings faculty advisor Lisa Freeman, who brought her dog, Penny, and Dr. Deb Linder, who supervises the Paws for People program at Cummings.

“The event showed how connected people are to animals,” says Mueller. “For students at Tufts, there’s a strong desire to see animals, pet them and talk to them. Many students miss their dogs at home. It’s a huge part of their daily lives that doesn’t exist at school.”

“We had students who said they’d been waiting all day for this,” says Sabol. “They knew at 4:30 p.m. they could take a break and see the dogs.” Although therapy dogs have visited students at Tufts’ dorms in the past during finals week, adds Sabol, the library was a perfect place for the event as so many students are already on site during final exams.

Sabol contacted Mueller about a collaboration between Paws for People and the Tisch Library after hearing about a similar event at another university library, and reading about Mueller’s research on human animal interaction in TuftsNow. Mueller’s research focuses on how animals and people help each other and the ways human-animal interactions mold healthy development in childhood and adolescence—from building character to community involvement to success in the classroom.

Therapy dogs are trained to provide affection and comfort to people, and often visit hospitals, nursing homes and schools. Obedience is part of the training, but dogs are tested for their aptitude for therapy work. Says Mueller, “They must be able to tolerate heavy, clumsy petting and abrupt noises.”

Mueller owns one of the four therapy dogs, Jett, a black Labrador retriever mix. Jett just passed his therapy dog evaluation in November, and Mueller says he relished “having a couple hundred students there to greet him at the library—a dream come true.”

Donald Paul Smith and Brasil Darien, Connecticut

Don Smith was contacted by a family with an autistic child who was petrified of dogs after an incident with another dog. The first time the team visited a year and a half ago, the 12-year-old boy jumped up on a table and

screamed. Don, who has been registered with Brasil for nearly six years and has logged more than 3,500 hours of service, was gradually able to get the boy to interact with his friendly Whippet. Since then, Don and Brasil have continued to visit every single week, and many times the young man has opted to spend time with Brasil over other activities and opportunities in order to “have his visit” with his new-found friend.

Midwest Sue Hicks and JordiJoplin, Missouri

A nurse for an inpatient rehabilitation unit shared a story about Pet Partners therapy team Sue Hicks and her Labradoodle Jordi. Despite the staff’s efforts, one patient in this unit wasn’t progressing. He had suffered a stroke that left his right side paralyzed and he was aphasic; the only words he could say were “yes” and “no.” He never smiled. He wasn’t eating or drinking enough. And when he wasn’t working with therapists, he stayed in bed with his eyes closed. He was being taken care of physically, but his spirit seemed unreachable.

One day, Sue brought Jordi to visit the patients. As they moved down the hall, the nurse asked the difficult patient if he wanted a visit from them. “He looked past me when he saw Jordi in the doorway,” she said. “I watched his face light up - I can’t remember when I’ve seen such spontaneous and genuine delight. He reached out his left hand and Sue brought Jordi to the bedside, where he just kept looking at her and smiling and patting her head. As I watched from the hall, I realized the dog had accomplished, in a moment, what none of us had been able to do in all the days of our caring for and working with this man. Somehow her presence, her gaze, her healing instinct drew this man out of his despair and brought him back to himself.”

After the visit, the patient began to eat and drink. He smiled more, made eye contact and interacted with the staff. His wife started to bring their little dog from home, and he kept him close by his side during the visits. He made more progress in his therapies, and eventually went home.

“That Jordi healed something in this patient, I have no doubt,” the nurse said. “He was a changed man after their encounter. It was as if she enchanted and charmed him into a healthier state of being. It was a beautiful thing, and it both inspired and humbled me.”

Marisa Mancino and Vinnie Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Marisa Mancino and her Dachshund Vinnie met patient Mackenzie Roach more than two years ago at Akron Children’s Hospital. She was eight years old at the time and she’d had surgery for a benign brain tumor, but then developed a disorder called post fossa syndrome. Mackenzie was no longer able to speak, walk or feed herself.

The team met Mackenzie on her last day of rehabilitation at the hospital, and it was love at first sight. Mackenzie hugged Vinnie as he sat on her lap, and everyone was happy to see how well she was doing. Throughout the rest of her recovery, Marisa and Vinnie met regularly with Mackenzie, who always looked forward to the visits.

Near the end of her recovery, the hospital granted “The Courage of Hope” award to Mackenzie. Vinnie and Marisa were invited to the ceremony. During Mackenzie’s speech, she explained that Vinnie had helped her through her terrific struggle. Marisa said, “It

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was the greatest moment of our lives to provide such comfort to an amazing little girl.”

Marisa later learned that Mackenzie was being bullied in school because of her disability. It was Mackenzie’s idea to have Vinnie come and comfort her while she gave a presentation to her fourth grade class. All of the other students loved Vinnie, and Mackenzie’s presentation was a huge success.

Steve Schwertfeger and May Crystal Lake, Illinois

Steve Schwertfeger was expecting a rather slow activity day as he entered the hospital with his dog May. As they walked down the hall toward the elevators, the team passed the hospital chapel. May suddenly stopped at the doorway and walked in. This was the first time in her five years of visiting that May noticed this room, and Steve was surprised at her sudden decision to go inside.

An elderly lady was sitting behind the door. She looked very worried, and her eyes were red from crying. Steve apologized for disturbing her thoughts and privacy, but May had her own agenda: She hopped up on a chair next to the woman, cocked her head and just looked at her. The woman slowly began to stroke May, and talk to her in a low voice. “Something told me to be quiet,” said Steve, “and allow the situation to unfold, so I took a seat behind them.” For five minutes the conversation between the woman and May continued. The woman’s face begin to soften, and she started to talk to May almost like two old friends catching up. May just sat, intently looking at her.

Finally the woman reached over and hugged May. She looked straight at the dog and said, “thank you dear for stopping in, this is just what I needed.” She smiled at Steve as they left the room.

For their remaining visits that morning, May was her normal self — energetic and wiggly. Steve concluded, “I learned a lot that day — there are times when therapy dogs know much more about people than we as handlers will ever understand.”

Taryn Wichterman and Riley Bloomington, Minnesota

Taryn Wichterman and her therapy rabbit Riley have been visiting the oncology floor of Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis for a couple of years. Because of the rotation of the patients, they don’t always see

the same children, so each visit can be very different. Children love to have a rabbit sit and snuggle on the bed with them.

One of Taryn’s most memorable visits was with a little boy who was just over the moon to see Riley. He literally could not stop smiling and laughing. Every time Riley would move or sniff the boy, he would break out in laughter. His mother said her son had not been happy in a long time, and it was great to hear him laugh. This day also happened to be his last chemotherapy session, so it was an extra special visit. Taryn gave him a high-five and congratulated him on being finished with his treatments. “Just seeing the smile on his face and knowing that Riley helped put it there was absolutely heartwarming,” Taryn said. “And to know we were sending him home with a great memory of his last day of chemo spent with a bunny. It’s a day I will never forget and look forward to many more visits with Riley.”

Victoria Harris and SpankyNashville, Tennessee

Victoria Harris and her Shih Tzu Spanky were called to the intensive care unit of the hospital they regularly visit to see a patient who had recently undergone brain surgery. He had not wanted to get out of bed and had not been as cognitive as expected. His wife said he loved dogs and that he might respond to one in a positive manner. Because they could not enter the ICU, Victoria and Spanky stayed in the beautiful atrium waiting area. The nurse told the patient there was a dog in the atrium, but he would have to get up and walk out there to see it. “He lit up like a Christmas tree!” exclaimed the nurse. With two poles and various IV lines, staff helped the patient maneuver to the waiting area.

The man gingerly sat down and Spanky very willingly laid down on his blanket-covered lap. For the next half hour, the patient petted and talked to the Shih Tzu, reminiscing about his own dog, and brushing Spanky. All the while, nurses and other staff members in turn walked by to witness the miracle. No one could believe how the patient was responding to Spanky — better than any medicine prescribed.

The patient’s wife emailed Victoria later to say they had left the hospital for a rehabilitation center, but was confident his stay there would be short. She gave Spanky the credit for jump-starting his full recovery.

Southeast Dawn Crouse and Jefferson & Phillip Asheville, North Carolina

Dawn Crouse’s therapy cat Jefferson’s “take-charge” attitude has earned him a nickname – “The Diva.” Jefferson has turned catnaps into an art form – often dozing off within 10 minutes of settling into a lap or bed. Hospice resident Miss Priscilla, frequent nap partner and therapy cat convert, says, “I hate cats except for Jefferson and his brother Phillip.” Her amended door sign reads, “Therapy Cats Welcome.”

Jefferson’s current record was set during a two-hour hospice visit. He quickly settled into a comfortable sleeping position with one of the residents and opened his eyes only when his friend woke up yelling, “kitty, kitty!” For months after the friend passed away, Jefferson stared at the closed door every time the team walked by.

Therapy cat Phillip was napping with Miss Priscilla when another resident’s daughter spotted him and asked if they could visit her mother who was unresponsive. Once Phillip finished his first nap, the team went down the hall so he could settle in for a second. The daughter and the nurse kept asking the mother to open her eyes and look at the cat sleeping in her lap. With eyes still shut tight, the mother finally responded, “where’s the cat?” Her daughter told her to look at her lap. The mother opened her eyes and lifted Phillip to her chest, where he snuggled and purred.

Chuck Mitchell and Rikki Tallahassee, Florida

Rikki is a Golden Retriever rescued from the flood waters outside New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. She and her handler, Chuck Mitchell, pay regular visits to the geriatric schizophrenic ward of one of the local psychiatric hospitals. During one visit, a deaf and mute patient sat with a vacant gaze, flanked by his interpreter and his therapist. The man waved the team off as quickly as his interpreter signed their greeting, and they moved on to the next person. After a few minutes of positive interactions with four other residents, Rikki and Chuck came back to see if the man had changed his mind. He hadn’t, and again dismissively waved them off.

After making the rounds of the room again, Rikki pulled Chuck over to the man once more, but his complete lack of interest was clear. Chuck approached the interpreter and said, “forgive me, but my dog really seems to think that your client would like to

meet her. Would you mind asking him just one more time?” As the interpreter signed the request, Rikki laid down at the man’s feet and looked straight up into his eyes. Her muscles relaxed and her mouth opened in an expectant smile. A kaleidoscope of expressions crossed the man’s face, then for a moment his eyes rolled far back in his head. Suddenly, he burst into a huge smile and focused on Rikki as though he’d never seen her before. He leaned over and threw his arms around her neck, moaning as he buried his head in her fur. Instead of stiffening up, Rikki relaxed and leaned forward into him, bringing herself even closer. The man began softly weeping and rocking back and forth. Then, just as quickly as he had begun, the man released Rikki, sat upright and looked straight ahead with a vacant stare, ignoring Rikki and Chuck. Rikki seemed to know the visit was over, so Chuck thanked everyone and left the room.

The therapist followed the team into the hall, explaining that the man suffered from multiple personality disorder. His dominant personality, which was aloof and antisocial, controlled the others and precluded them from emerging, except occasionally – and then only for a short time. He and the other therapists had worked to encourage one of the man’s other, more sociable personalities to emerge long enough for them to make contact. “Your dog did in a few minutes what I haven’t been able to do in 12 years. She connected with one of his personalities who wanted to deal with the outside world in a positive manner,” he said. The therapist admitted he had never really believed that animal-assisted therapy would be of any benefit to his practice. After witnessing the incident, however, he asked Chuck to bring Rikki again the following week and focus strictly on this patient.

The following week, other therapists and physicians were in attendance as well, including the hospital’s chief medical director. As during the previous visit, the man was not interested in the dog at first. However, it didn’t take long for the more social personality to emerge, though his arrival wasn’t as physically dramatic as it had been in the first encounter.

The man eventually relaxed enough while petting Rikki that the therapists were able to have brief interludes of conversation with him through his interpreter. As Chuck and Rikki prepared to leave, everyone in the room — including the patient, through his interpreter — thanked Chuck for bringing Rikki.

Once Rikki provided the key to get around the man’s dominant, isolated personality, the professionals were able to begin connecting with him and treating him in more conventional ways.

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Cyndi Smith and BanditAlva, Florida

Cyndi Smith and her family began raising alpacas seven years ago. One day, Cyndi’s daughter told her about a woman who brought a dog to school so the children could read to her. “Can we do that with the alpacas?” her daughter asked. Cyndi liked the idea, and soon she and her daughters were scheduling team evaluations. When Cyndi’s husband mentioned their plans to the director of a nearby assisted living facility, the woman begged them to bring the alpacas to meet her residents.

During their first visit, the alpacas strutted around and let all of the residents pet them. Smiles cracked on aged faces, and residents giggled as their knobby fingers touched the soft fleece. When the alpacas went over a small jump and tittered over the see-saw, the audience cheered and gasped. The teams were a hit, but had only just begun. The director escorted Cyndi and Bandit the alpaca down a hallway into the dementia unit, where they worked their way from one room to the next, stopping at each bed. Some faces were blank and didn’t respond at all. Some were confused but delighted in the soft feel of the alpaca fleece. A few appeared fearful, so the teams didn’t linger near those residents. Then, when they entered the common room – before the director even had a chance to introduce them – one woman screeched, jumped up and ran over to Bandit. She grabbed him by the neck, and everyone froze.

The woman began laughing and giggling; her face buried in the alpaca’s thick brown fleece. She rocked his head gently until tears formed in her eyes. Bandit stood completely still. He hummed to her softly as she tightened her embrace. The two seemed perfectly content to just stand together in an endearing hug. This went on for a good five minutes before a staff member gently coaxed the woman back to her chair.

Later, as Cyndi loaded the alpacas and equipment back in the trailer, the dementia unit staff nurse came out to explain that the woman who was so excited to see Bandit had been a patient for several years, but had never been responsive to anything. She hadn’t made a sound or acknowledged anyone or anything in the time she had been there. The nurse said Bandit

had apparently touched something deep inside this woman during their visit, and for a little while, had brought a sense of love and joy she hadn’t felt in years.

Gina Blevins and TexHaymarket, Virginia

Tex is a five-year-old black Labrador Retriever that Gina Blevins raised to be a service dog for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. Although he was

released from that program due to stress issues, Gina knew Tex had a special gift. Now, as a Pet Partners therapy dog, Tex works with confidence and pleasure.

Gina and Tex regularly go to Fairfax Inova Hospital in Virginia, and during one particular visit, the team met a 21-year-old woman who had been severely injured in a car accident. Her numerous fractures and lacerations were healing, but the head trauma had left her in a coma for weeks. This was the first day the woman had been awake, but she was still not responding to her environment. As the team entered the hospital room, Gina introduced herself and Tex to the woman and her mother. On command, Tex gently climbed onto the bed. When Gina asked the woman if she would like to pet Tex, her eyes lit up and she reached over to him. This was the first indication the patient was becoming aware of her surroundings — she understood the request, and she was able to process the information, engage her muscles and follow through. Tex and Gina continued to spend time with the woman, and soon, her mother explained that her daughter had been originally scheduled to transfer to a nursing home, but this new interaction would likely upgrade her to a neurology rehabilitation facility instead.

Although Tex hadn’t made it as a guide dog, he found another significant way to make a difference. Gina said, “being involved in animal-assisted therapy has shown me the profound effect our animals can have on people emotionally and physically. We should never underestimate the power they possess and we should make every effort to share it with the community.”

Suncoast Humane Society’s Therapy Animal TeamsEnglewood, Florida

At a local nursing home, a partially paralyzed stroke victim asked if Nikita the therapy dog could lie in bed with her. As he cuddled against her rigid body, the woman extended her hand and began stroking his fur. Her husband exclaimed that this was the first time the woman had smiled, and the first time she had been willing to do any physical therapy since the stroke had incapacitated her months earlier. Nikita, as had his predecessor Jasper, and handler Jeanette Himmelfarb, also visit several other local facilities. Recently, along with 12 other dogs acting as an honor guard, Nikita attended a funeral to comfort the mourners.

Georgia Boni has two young therapy dogs, Dante and Gianni, both Italian Greyhounds. Georgia tells of Gianni’s first big success: “Helen had been in the Alzheimer’s unit of an assisted living facility for three months. The aides had been unable to get her to eat more than one morsel of food at a time. One morning, Helen was sitting at the breakfast table, staring at a lovely, yet untouched plate of bacon, fried eggs, and toast. Gianni approached and put his head on her knee.

The smell of bacon had permeated the room, and the dog looked hopeful. I tried to place her hand on Gianni’s head, but she withdrew it and continued to take refuge in her own thoughts. ‘Helen, please eat something,’ an aide pleaded. After about 10 minutes, as I was about to leave, something wonderful happened. Helen picked up a slice of bacon, tore it in two and held one half out to Gianni (whose prayers had been answered) and put the other half into her own mouth. They continued to share breakfast; an elderly woman and her new friend Gianni.”

Willie is an 11-year-old Cockapoo owned by Sy and Sandy Levine. Every week, Willie visits the VA nursing home in Port Charlotte,

FL to entertain and brighten the patients’ days. Once, they were asked to visit an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s who had owned a dog like Willie many years ago. “She was very frail and would not get up out of her chair,” Sy said. “She

was standoffish and did not react to our presence. But on the next visit, when she saw Willie, she got up out of her chair and said, “I want to walk him.” Holding the leash with her, Sy helped her take Willie for a walk across the room, something she had not done since her decline.

Jeanette and Georgia and their therapy dogs meet more than 400 people every month. They train every day and spend lots of time socializing their pets with humans in crowded settings and with other dogs. The teams have been volunteering with their dogs through the Suncoast Humane Society in Englewood for more than seven years.

Photo: Pet Partners therapy dogs (l. to r.) Willie Levine, Dante and Gianni Boni, and Nikita Himmelfarb, here with their partners Sy and Sandy, Georgia, and Jeanette, all members of the Jewish Congregation of Venice (FL). Photo by Martin Himmelfarb

Jan Stice and CrystalSalem, Virginia

Crystal is a 13-year-old Golden Retriever and Border Collie mix. Together with her handler Jan Stice, she provides reading support to second-grade students. Because the students are low-level readers, it is very important that they not only read the words, but understand the story as well.

As one student was struggling with a book, Jan whispered to the boy, “please tell Crystal what a tortoise is, because she doesn’t know that word. She does know what a rabbit is, because we have them at home, so tell her a hare is like a rabbit so she will understand the story.” The boy smiled, leaned over, pointed to a picture of a hare in his book and told Crystal in a very serious voice, “Crystal, this is a hare and that is like a rabbit.” When he said “rabbit,” Crystal’s ears

went up and she looked at him very intently. Of course, that tickled the student and he went on to read. There was a section in the book about how the tortoise crawled, so Jan asked the student if he knew what crawling meant. He said he didn’t, so Jan had Crystal demonstrate for him (she has learned the command ‘crawl’).

At the end-of-the-school-year party for the therapy dog program’s reading students, this student approached Jan and whispered, “does anyone else know about the hare and the rabbit?” Jan was surprised he remembered and answered, “no, you are the only one.” The boy stuck out his chest, smiled and went back to his friends. He will surely never forget his experience with Crystal.

Southwest Bob Smith and Murphie Courage Flagstaff, Arizona

Every other Wednesday, Murphie Courage, a purebred Border Collie, and her handler Bob Smith visit patients and staff at Flagstaff Medical Center. During their training to become a registered Pet Partners therapy animal team, one thing Bob distinctively remembers learning is that once in a while the team may have a visit with a patient that doesn’t seem to be very productive. They soon found out what that meant.

The team was visiting a 16-year-old boy who had been in a car accident. On his sixth day in the hospital, he had still not communicated with anyone. His eyes were fixed and staring straight ahead. Murphie and Bob saw no reaction from the boy after nearly 15 minutes – not even a blink of an eye – when Bob got down on one knee and propped Murphie up on his leg so the young man could see her better. Bob repeated Murphie’s name and explained a little about the Border Collie breed and their herding skills. But no matter what Murphie or Bob did, nothing made a difference with this boy and his circumstances. Remembering what the instructor had said about not being able to control the situation, they left the patient and continued their rounds.

About four hours after they left the hospital, a paramedic friend who had been visiting at the same time called Bob with some amazing news: After Murphie and Bob left the teenager’s room, he started saying Murphie’s name repeatedly and as clear as a bell! This was the boy’s first attempt at communicating since the accident. Bob wondered, “did this visit that was so unproductive actually help start bringing this young man back? I’m not sure… I don’t think anyone fully knows the extent of good that Pet Partners teams bring. Or leave behind ... “

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West Susan West and Runner Ogden, Utah

Runner is a two-year-old Saint Bernard that has volunteered with his handler Susan West for the past year at Ogden Regional Medical Center (ORMC), George E. Wahlen Veteran’s Home, and Primary Children’s Hospital.

The team was making a weekly ORMC visit when they noticed a group of people in a waiting room and asked if they would like a visit. After they were invited in, Runner headed straight toward a distraught man who was shuffling through a stack of paperwork and signing various documents. Runner leaned into the man’s lap and laid his head on the stack of paper. The man said his father had just been admitted into the intensive care unit with paralysis

and that the prognosis was not good. He began to cry as he bear-hugged Runner and said he really needed that. Susan asked if his father liked dogs as they were on their way to ICU. He said yes, but that his dad would probably not even know the team was there.

Nevertheless, Susan and Runner went to ICU, but were told by staff that a visit would

not be possible because the patient also had MRSA, an infection that is very difficult to treat. They pointed out the man’s room through a closed glass door. Runner pressed his nose against the glass and stood and stared at the man – likely confused as to why they were not going in the room. Runner never took his eyes off of him. The nurse then told the man, “there is a big dog here to see you,” and pointed to the door. After a few minutes, the man made a huge effort to turn his head toward the door. A faint smile came to his face as his eyes met Runner’s. Runner laid down with his face pressed close to the door – eyes locked on the man. A definite connection had been made, and Runner was not leaving his new friend. The “visit” lasted a few more minutes and Susan was amazed at how reluctant Runner was to leave, as he was getting no real feedback from the man. Yet they had obviously formed a bond.

The following week, Susan heard from another therapy animal team that they had been approached by a man wondering about the Saint Bernard he had met. He wanted to let Susan know that his father had passed away, but that their last conversation together was about the giant dog that had come to see him, and how happy that had made him.

Susan Voise and Schatzie Arlington, Texas

Schatzie is an eight-year-old Cockapoo who has been a registered Pet Partners therapy dog since 2008. Recently, the activity director at a local nursing home – one of the facilities Schatzie visits – asked his handler Susan Voise to work with a new patient. The woman, Debra, is in her 40s and paralyzed from the neck down. Although she cannot move, she still has feeling in her body. She said she loves dogs, but was fearful of animals in close proximity because she couldn’t move

if the dog did anything unexpected. Other therapy dogs had visited her in the past, but had made her uncomfortable. Schatzie was her last chance at having a dog in her life.

When the team walked into the room, Debra looked ill at ease, but interested. She then relaxed and asked if Schatzie could sit on her bed, and the little dog snuggled into the crook of her waist. Debra smiled and described how wonderful it was to feel a dog’s warmth next to her. The activity director gently picked up her arm and slowly guided it up and down Schatzie’s body so she could “pet” her. After a few minutes, Debra said that even that slight motion was uncomfortable — but she didn’t want to stop.

As Schatzie moved even closer, a look of total peace came across the woman’s face. Schatzie seemed to sense that any

sudden movement on her part might be alarming, so she laid perfectly still, her head nestled on Debra’s neck. The room became totally quiet and the two of them lay together for a few minutes, breathing at the same pace, eyes closed and in perfect harmony. “Neither one seemed aware that I was standing close by, one hand on Schatzie’s head,” Susan said, “but as the moments ticked by, even I began to relax and realize what a true gift Schatzie had given the patient that day.”

Sharon Davis and Sophie Palestine, Texas

A young boy walked into the activity room at a residential treatment center for his first visit with a therapy dog, unsure of what to expect. He was slumped over and his eyes were downcast. When the boy finally looked up, he spotted Sophie the Labradoodle and immediately ran over to her and handler Sharon Davis. He threw his arms around the dog, looked up at Sharon and asked if he could have Sophie — he even offered to buy her. Sharon explained that Sophie was her dog but that they would continue to visit him. When it was time for the team to leave, the staff had difficulty getting the boy to return to his room. He would run to the door and then back to Sophie.

Sharon was later told the boy’s mother had driven him across

the border and abandoned him in El Paso. While at the facility, he had been sullen and even violent at times. The director was very surprised at the report of his behavior with Sophie. While his behavior did not significantly improve at the facility, he remained kind and gentle with Sophie. Eventually he was moved to another facility. Sharon said, “I hope his time with Sophie and her unconditional love for him had a positive, lasting impact on the boy. His family history indicated he had not had the opportunity to love and be loved.”

Kathleen Hubbard and JakeLake Havasu City, Arizona

For almost a year and a half, Kathleen Hubbard and Jake visited “Grandma” weekly at her assisted living facility. She always lit up the moment Jake arrived. Knowing how important Jake was to her, the Facility Director told Kathleen when Grandma began transitioning. They immediately went in for a visit and spent two hours with the dying woman. She drifted in and out of sleep because of her pain medication, but she when she was awake, her hands were on Jake and she was smiling.

Two days later the facility called to say it wouldn’t be long, so the team arrived as soon as they were able. Jake gently climbed up and lay next to Grandma, tenderly pressed to her side. Kathleen took her hand and said, “Grandma, Jake’s here to see you.” She could no longer speak, but she moaned as Kathleen guided her hand to stroke Jake’s head. She knew he was with her.

Jake normally doesn’t lick, but he decided to clean Grandma’s hand that day. Kathleen didn’t stop him because Jake seemed to sense this was something he needed to do for her.

Jake laid quietly next to her as friends and staff came in to say their goodbyes. Kathleen asked the family several times if they should leave, but they emphatically said no each time. Jake was a much-needed distraction for them as well. Jake provided Grandma with love and comfort for over an hour until she passed. Kathleen exclaimed, “Grandma probably has the cleanest right hand in heaven.”

Mollie Hunt and Tinkerbelle Portland, Oregon

Mollie Hunt received an email from Pet Partners’ Therapy Animal Program Coordinator asking if she could visit a woman who was at the end of her life. The woman loved cats and had had many of her own, but now she lived in a hospice home where there were no animals. She was beyond speaking, but her daughter knew one of her last wishes was to touch a cat one last time.

Mollie and her cat Tinkerbelle were greeted by a bereft woman, the patient’s daughter. Her eyes were red though she smiled when she saw them. She guided them through a beautiful converted home to a small bedroom. The patient was unconscious but thrashing, distressed in spite of hospice’s comfort measures. Around her several women whispered in hopeless tones.

“Mom?” said the daughter, taking her hand. “I have someone to see you.” No response. It was time for Tinkerbelle to take charge.

“Hello,” Mollie said softly. “I have a cat to visit you. May I put her on your bed?” For a moment the woman’s thrashing lessened, so Mollie understood that as a yes. Placing Tinkerbelle next to the woman, she guided her hand to the soft fur. The patient began to stroke Tinkerbelle with the tiniest of movements. Her ragged breathing eased, taking on the simple rhythm of the strokes.

The room went silent, then everyone began talking at once, but in a different manner. Family now spoke in normal voices, praising Tinkerbelle and recalling other cats in their lives. Someone opened the curtain, letting in the winter sunshine. After a while, the woman’s hand fell still. She was resting comfortably.

Margot Hunjan and Dudley Larkspur, Colorado

Flat Coated Retriever Dudley and his handler Margot Hunjan visit mildly to severely disabled children in a special classroom at Ray Kilmer Elementary School, just east of Monument, Colorado.

A few of the young people are in wheelchairs; many are not able to communicate or even respond to people, but all love visiting with sweet and gentle Dudley.

Before the team arrived one day after a long absence, a young boy named Paul told his teachers in sign language that he was excited about Dudley coming back to visit. This was the same boy who had been terrified of the dog the first time they met.

When the team arrived, Paul smiled and very gingerly touched Dudley on the head. Then he gave Margot an exuberant hug and began stroking Dudley’s head and back. Paul walked alongside them, holding part of the leash and inviting other children to pet

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the dog. Paul was so happy to interact with Dudley and never stopped smiling, but more than anything he was proud of himself. He had overcome fear and celebrated this as the great achievement it was.

At first Paul threw dog treats on the floor because he was not comfortable having Dudley take a treat from his hand. But after

much encouragement, he finally held on to the cookie and Dudley gently took the treat from him. The relief and exhilaration on Paul’s face was something to behold. He had done it! The loud and happy sounds coming from him were those of pure joy. Giving dog treats has become easy for Paul. Margot told Paul that Dudley is his friend now, and he made the sign for friends while pointing to the dog.

This is a child without verbal language skills, but before the team left that day, Paul pointed to Dudley and to everyone’s amazement, quite clearly said, “Dud.”

Sue Grundfest and BennyLas Vegas, Nevada

Sue Grundfest and her Poodle Benny were greeted with excitement by the occupational and physical therapists the first time visiting a new facility. Sue walked Benny through the room to familiarize him with the setting and introduced him to several therapists and clients. One woman in particular seemed to take to him and was overwhelmed with joy. Her therapist explained that she’d had two strokes within a short period of time and they were trying to motivate her to walk and to use her weakened hand.

A big smile came across the woman’s face as Sue placed Benny in her lap. Then a slight tear trickled down her check. Benny looked up at her and gave her the sweetest look that seemed to say, “yes, I am a dog and I’m here to help you!”

Sue took out a very soft plastic molded brush that fit perfectly into the woman’s one strong hand. Then her therapist helped her work her weaker side and she was able to open her hand palm down and pet Benny. They switched the brush to her weaker hand and she was able to take a few strokes. She was even able to cup her hand and arm around Benny to hold him on her lap independently.

They asked the woman if she would get up and try walking a few steps with Benny as he is an excellent double-leash walker and he stays at any pace Sue sets. Not only did the woman walk – she navigated the entire room!

The first meeting was so successful that Benny has met with the same patient every week, and she is now learning to turn the pages of books while reading to the dog, pour water in a little bowl for him, and remove and replace his Pet Partners vest – all using her weakened hand. Whenever she sees Benny and Sue come into the room, she perks up and says, “I am so happy Benny is here.” She always thrills when walking Benny and their pace has quickened. When she is tired, Benny patiently waits.

The team spends 15 minutes walking with the physical therapist and then 30 minutes with the occupational therapist, utilizing the dog as part of an activity. Sue said, “this is what teamwork is all about, and why the Love Dogs choose their facility partners so strategically. This rehabilitation facility has learned how to work in tandem with the dogs and choose the right clients and therapists for such alternative therapies, and they always give me feedback after each session.”

Peter Christensen and MukaVancouver, Washington

As an active therapy dog handler for nearly four years, Peter Christensen says he has witnessed the healing effect of the human-animal bond many times. “I have heard machines beep to indicate that blood pressure has dropped enough for patients to be ready for operations,” he said. “I have watched as sedentary people with dementia speak more, move more, and smile more. I have watched as my dog simply distracts people from their pain – if only for the moment -- as they wait to be treated in an emergency waiting room or as they recover in a hospital bed.” But the following interaction is a bit contrary to what therapy dog handlers would expect.

Peter was letting Muka take a break in a waiting room during their visits at a hospital, but the waiting room wasn’t empty. An elderly woman was sitting alone. She looked very solemn; her face turned toward the floor.

Peter usually enters a room with a boisterous introduction: “Hello! My name is Peter Christensen, and this is my therapy dog Mukaluka Von Schwartzen Schnauzer Dirtypaws. But you can call me Peter!” It never fails to get a big laugh. But this time he gently said hello and asked if she would like to pet his therapy dog. At first, she didn’t reply. Then she blurted out, “I don’t need therapy!”

Peter said, “okay, we’re just going to sit quietly by the window and take a break.” Again, at first she didn’t reply. Then she blurted out, “what kind of therapy do you give?”

The woman explained that she was waiting for a friend who

was going through a fifth surgery, and that after each operation, the woman had been taking care of her friend. Muka stood in front of her as she went on in great detail. She was looking in his direction, and never turned toward Peter. She went on to talk about her husband’s illness and the great burden it was to take care of both her husband and her friend. As she went on, Muka sat down in front of her. Then she launched into a lengthy description of her own ailments, and how they made it nearly impossible to care for both her husband and her friend. Now as she went on, Muka lay down in front of her.

Although her list of grievances grew, the woman began to sound less and less depressed.

Finally, she reached down and petted Muka’s head, at the same time turning toward Peter. She exclaimed, “sometimes life is really, really hard. But if you just hang in there, you can get through it.”

Peter concluded, “what I love most about this story is that the woman who said, ‘I don’t need therapy!’ got exactly that. Sharing about our troubles, venting our frustrations, is in itself a healing process. And all it takes is a patient dog and a caring person willing to listen.”

Lisa Wyatt and MaplePortland, Oregon

Lisa Wyatt and her dog Maple visit a senior living facility every other week, and a juvenile detention center every week. At the detention center, the interactions with Maple are in a class setting: Lisa talks about how dogs learn, dog behavior and body language, positive reinforcement training, spaying and neutering, and inevitably (because Maple is a Pit Bull), she talks about the history, myths, and media portrayals of the breed. The kids get opportunities to pet and clicker-train Maple.

Lisa said, “I am drawn to this work because I care about dogs and people. I want to educate people about dog behavior, positive training and health care so that we can all make our dogs’ lives better and so that we are able to enjoy the loving qualities dogs have to offer.”

The day before a visit to the detention center, one young man had attempted to take his own life. Lisa was asked to work one-on-one with him and Maple. She put the clicker in his hand and instructed him with a hand targeting game. The young man’s face changed. He said he liked the game. She then asked him to make it more challenging for Maple, to hold his hand up higher – near his shoulders. Maple got up on her hind legs and enthusiastically bumped his hand with her nose. Not only did the trick make the young man smile, he felt empowered and Maple was having so much fun.

Debe Christnacht and GabeLakewood, Washington

In December 2013, a Toy Poodle named Gabe was the first non-human to receive an award for “outstanding individual providing a significant contribution in the lives of older adults” from the Pierce County Department of Aging and Disability Resources. Along with his handler Debe Christnacht, Gabe provides more than just comfort for the residents of Bridgeport Place Retirement and Assisted Living. According to Debe’s husband Jim, Gabe can sense when a patient is in danger. “One time Gabe was visiting an older adult when he refused to move,” said Jim. “His reluctance alerted care staff. Upon investigation, it was determined the patient was suffering small strokes that were undetectable by sight alone.”

Gabe also is a powerful motivator for patients undergoing physical therapy, and often his presence brings temporary clarity to memory-impaired residents who brighten up while telling stories of pets they have had in the past. When Gabe was visiting one patient who was unable to speak, the woman was holding Gabe in her lap when she suddenly looked up and said, “he’s so good.” Jim said, “staff were amazed this resident spoke. This incident touched everyone’s heart.”

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NEW CEO ANNOUNCEDCatherine “Annie” Magnant

We are excited to announce that Catherine “Annie” Magnant is the new President and CEO of Pet Partners. A visionary leader, strategic thinker and exceptional communicator, Magnant brings more than 20 years of leadership experience to the Pet Partners team. Magnant departs Special Olympics International where she served as Vice President of Personal Giving and Special Events and had a broad and positive impact by introducing innovative fundrais-ing strategies and engaging staff globally. Additionally, Magnant has served as Executive Director for the Science Museum of Virginia Foundation and had significant leadership roles at the Arthritis Foundation, Virginia Chapter and the Leukemia Society of America.

“After a comprehensive search, we feel like we have found a great match, the right person for the job” says Pet Partners Board Chair Brenda Bax. “The breadth and depth of her experience and her strong leadership abilities are just what we need to acceler-ate the excellence of our programming and achieve our growth goals for touching more lives with best-in-class pet interactions to improve health and well-being.”

“It’s an honor to be joining such a wonderful community and cause, and I look forward to working collaboratively with so many passionate individuals. From my first experience visiting a local hospital with a Pet Partners team, to the great-hearted - yet practical - vision of what we can accomplish going forward, Pet Partners has proven inspiring. I’m thrilled that we can shape the future together,” offered Magnant. Magnant joined Pet Partners May 27, 2014.

HOWTOHELP

Make a DonationPet Partners relies on donations made by individuals, foundations, corporations and thousands of volunteers to provide program services. Demand for our services is much greater than we can provide and your support will help those waiting for us to reach them. Join as a member by donating $50 or more and receive our publication Pet Partners Interactions magazine and other membership benefits. Or consider making a gift in honor or memory of a pet, family member or friend.

WAYS TO MAKE A DONATION:

1. Online at www.petpartners.org/donate

2. By phone by calling 425.679.5517

3. By mail to 875 124th Ave NE #101, Bellevue, WA 98005

4. Select Pet Partners as the recipient of your workplace giving

Pet Partners relies on corporate sponsors who help make our mission possible. Your support of their business supports the work of our teams. For a list or these partners, go to www.petpartners.org/corporate Companies interested in becoming members of our Caring Company program please visit www.petparters.org/caringcompanies

You can also help by conducting your own grassroots fundraising event or ask about our Peer-to-Peer online fundraising opportunity. You may also become a member of our Caring Community, a national group of supporters who have made provisions in their estate planning to support the work of Pet Partners. Email julied@petpartners.org or call 425.679.5502 for details.

2013 ANNUAL REPORTPet Partners spent 2013 becoming better and stronger than ever. We made significant investments in our organizational capabilities, our training and support infrastructure, and our leadership. These initiatives demonstrate our commitment to the best-in-class standards established by our founders 37 years ago, and to our expanding service goals nationwide. Pet Partners’focus is on enabling our teams, caregivers, and health care providers to confidently offer top quality, safe, rich interactions that optimally support the health and well-being of those we serve.

— Brenda Bax, Pet Partners Board Chair —

Pet Partners Board Chair Brenda Bax with Monty & Chouteau

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ACCOMPLISHMENTSEvaluator Webinar Series Launched A series of professional development webinars to address recurring challenges and improve the consistency of evaluations nationally. These webinars were designed and hosted by current evaluators with support from staff. Webinars included:

• Recruiting, Training and Retaining Assistants •BestPracticesforPreparingTeamsforEvaluationDay •StressFreeEvaluations:Howtoprepareforevaluationday without headaches •ScriptingforSuccess

PracticumsPracticums are the in-person training component for those interested in becoming a licensed Pet Partners evaluator. They focus on hands-on application of knowledge and ensure that the Pet Partners evaluation program remains rigorous, ensuring well qualified teams across the country. Nine Practicums were held yielding 63 new licensed team evaluators.

Community Partner Program Community Partners are groups of registered Pet Partners volunteers that serve a specific geographic area or facility who are interested in a closer, more collaborative relationship with each other and the parent organization. Recognized as leaders within Pet Partners’ therapy animal program, these groups of active volunteers consisting of a minimum of 20 registered teams, 1 instructor and 1 evaluator, receive additional opportunities and benefits for active participation in the partnership program. In 2013, 25 groups joined.

Student Satisfaction Surveys LaunchedSurveys have been launched to begin gathering student feedback specifically for online training courses such as those for handlers, instructors and evaluators. Update to Handler Student Guide Completed The Handler Guide is the primary resource document for all registered Pet Partners teams. It has benefitted from some revisions and clarifications to ensure Pet Partners teams are working with best practices. It is now printed as a bound book.

Working with Veterans Online Continuing Education Course launched A training experience designed to provide information and practical guidance for handlers wishing to work with veterans.

Customer Relations Management System InitiatedThe new Customer Relations Management (CRM) system will enable Pet Partners to capture data about our volunteers and their visits. This will help us better identify the outcomes and impact of our programs as well as provide more information on the demographics of those we serve. This new system will allow us to make more data-driven decisions about future initiatives and become a more efficient nonprofit model. Our goal is to have this project complete by the end of 2014.

2013 ANNUAL REPORT

8,817individual handlers

registered in

48 states

10,348 teams

over 1,000,000visits

Statements of Financial Position

2013 2012

ASSETS Current 256,275 543,454Land, Builiding & Equipment 3,142,066 3,241,928

Investment & Other 5,722,427 5,029,835

Total Assets 9,120,768 8,815,217

LIABILITIES Current Liabilities 297,971 283,194

NET ASSETS Board Designated 2,766,239 3,154,677 Unrestricted 3,544,595 3,210,814 Temporarily Restricted 1,455,465 997,177 Permanently Restricted 1,056,498 1,169,355

9,120,768 8,815,217 Statement of Activities (Unrestricted)

Operating Revenue Excluding In-Kind Contributions 1,919,857 2,851,113 In-Kind Contributions 443,003 21,470

Total Revenue 2,362,860 2,872,583

Expenses Program services 1,657,419 1,125,056 Management and general 258,824 175,693 Fundraising 615,541 545,693

Total Expenses 2,531,784 1,846,442

Change in Net Assets Before Non-Operating Income Non-Operating Income 114,267 (116,762)

Change in Net Assets (54,657) 909,379

Much of Pet Partners’ program services are performed by volunteers whose contributed time does not meet the criteria for recognition of contributed services. Therefore, the proportion of management, general and fundraising expenses may be higher than for other comparable nonprofit organizations.

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Philia’s FriendIn early August, Karisto, Philia and I made goodbye visits to our friends at Lakeview Senior Living, in Lincoln City, Oregon, explaining that the reason for our absence during the autumn months would be my upcoming hip surgery. The residents were delighted to hear that both of my Pet Partners would be on duty caring for me in my recovery.

Five months later we were ready to return to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Our first stop was to see Beryl, one of our favorite residents as she always has stories of the dogs she had growing up. Philia walked eagerly at my side but when we arrived at the familiar door the sign was blank, the usual flower decorations were gone and a starkly empty room greeted us. My heart stopped fearing what might have happened. We went directly to ask the receptionist who said Beryl had been moved to another part of the facility during our absence.

We walked briskly down the hallway, punched in the code to open the decorated doors and entered the world of memory care. As we got closer to the dining area I spied Beryl in an armchair at the periphery of the group. She was listing a bit to one side, her fragile hands curled up by her face. She must have caught a glimpse of Philia’s bouncy trot coming toward her as she sat up a bit, stretched out her arms and said quietly but distinctly, “Oh, Philia, I’ve missed you so much.” I immediately scooped up Philia and all her black and white fluffy curls and placed her in Beryl’s lap.

I kneeled down next to Beryl’s chair so I could understand her faint voice of gratitude and see her eyes flicker with recognition. Even after five months of not seeing Philia, Beryl’s 92 years of loving dogs came naturally as she stroked and cuddled Philia. This simple act of providing soft comfort in Beryl’s new world nourishes me. In my handler role I can keep my tears at bay, but at this welcome reunion it was difficult to contain them.

By Katharine W. Harding

She must have caught a glimpse of Philia’s bouncy trot coming toward her as she sat up a bit, stretched out her arms and said quietly but distinctly, “Oh, Philia, I’ve missed you so much.”

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The growth of animal-assisted therapy means that man’s best friend may soon be man’s best medicine.

During a couples-therapy session, therapist Ellen Winston of Lakewood, Colo., brought along her assistant, Sasha — who happens to be a dog.

The couple were dealing with behavioral problems in their children and, on top of that, getting a divorce. “The split was not entirely amicable, and there were very hurt and angry feelings all around,” Winston says. “The parents struggled to have a civil conversation and it often escalated into yelling, and then tears, on both sides.”

During the sessions, the couple would sit on complete opposite sides of the couch. Sasha would hop in the middle, curl up and fall asleep. Both partners would stroke Sasha at particularly emotional moments, and it helped them calm down. Still, they continued to get agitated, often letting therapy sessions intensify into screaming matches. When that happened, Sasha would quickly get up and walk to the door. Winston used those moments as teaching points.

“We [discussed] that if this is how they interact regularly, their children were likely also picking up on their moods and acting out as a result. This was one of the first times they realized that their children may be impacted by the parents own relationship.”

Winston’s sessions are one of the ways animal-assisted therapy is changing. Animal-assisted therapy is different from service animals who accompany someone dealing with anxiety or depression. Those are certified as emotional-support animals (ESA), who are daily companions and covered under the Americans With Disabilities Act. Therapy animals, on the other hand, are meant to be used in counseling, whether a professional session or an informal one. Although the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association have no formal position on animal-assisted therapy, there’s evidence that small practices and individuals are exploring it. Animals are appearing in all sorts of places: in emergency rooms, prisons, juvenile-detention centers, nursing homes and, increasingly, your therapist’s office. There are no official numbers yet, but Pet Partners, a nonprofit that registers animals for animal-assisted therapy use (the largest organization to do so in the U.S.), says

there were more than 1 million reported interactions between registered animals and patients last year. This number includes everything from nursing-home visits to therapy sessions.

Kathryn Kimbley, director of HumAnima CIC, an animal-assisted therapy service in West Midlands, England, brings her therapy dog Flossie to individual sessions with clients, as well as to larger groups, to comfort patients with depression, behavioral problems or even mental-health issues like PTSD. “Dogs can act very

much like a social catalyst. In various settings they will encourage people to interact with one another,” Kimbley says. “It lifts the mood and makes people feel better.”

Kimbley has found that her clients feel more at ease talking to her when they’re physically distracted. “If someone is talking, they might sort of tap their foot or fidget. They have this energy they want to redirect somewhere, and they have no outlet for it.

The Dog Will See You NowBy Alexandra Sifferlin

So if Flossie is in this situation, it is much easier for them.” A therapy pet can also modulate a relationship between a client

and his or her counselor. “You are dealing with powerful and overwhelming emotions, but you can’t hug a client,” says Kimbley. “With a dog present, that need is therefore met.”

Emerging research confirms the benefits of pets on people. A 2009 study found that preschool kids with special needs were better able to follow directions during assigned tasks if they were with a trained poodle than when they were alone, with another human or with a stuffed animal dog. Other research has shown that animals are social facilitators: people tend to be viewed as more trustworthy if they have a pet, and pets are known to instigate more conversations among strangers. Animals can also lower a person’s anxiety level. “You can see some of the same changes in physiological response from looking at a fish tank as you do with petting a dog, cat or a horse,” says Sheryl Pipe, an adjunct professor of anthrozoology (the study of human-animal interaction) at Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y. “But in terms of social facilitation, that is better suited for mammals.”

Of course, there are certain people who don’t respond well to animals in their sessions, and therapists need to distinguish between those who will benefit and those who need pet-free space. And not just any animal will work. Therapy animals are most successful when they’re a bit older and have more experience. There are no set guidelines for training animals used in therapy, and many groups use their own rubrics. Kimbley makes sure her animals are properly socialized and can react normally in a variety of situations.

But, Pipe warns, a therapy animal should be considered a partner rather than a tool. “We tend to have a greater willingness to consider the impact on our partner than our tools. We have to make sure an animal is happy participating and still has adequate time to behave like the animal that they are,” says Pipe.

“The field is still relatively in its infancy, but the data that’s beginning to come in is really encouraging in terms of how impactful this work can be.” Man’s best friend, it seems, can also be man’s best medicine.

A 2009 study found that preschool kids with special needs were better able to follow directions during assigned tasks if they were with a trained poodle than when they were alone, with another human or with a stuffed animal dog.

©2014 Time Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted/Translated from TIME and published with permission of Time Inc. Reproduction in any manner in any language in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

From the pages of

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Saying Goodbye. We thank our therapy animals who touched many lives during their years of service.

RETIRED ALICE, Boxer, Jennifer Kimberlin, MOBELLA, Great Pyrenees, Tina L. Jenkins, INBLUE, Cairn Terrier, Susan Chapman, IABOO, Akita , Myrna Lassiter, ORBRODY, Labradoodle, Gary Brady, CABRUCE, Pomeranian, Susanne J. Wollman, MNCASE, Golden Retriever, Carrie Stewart, OHCEREBUS, Australian Shepherd, Gary Brazzell and Heather Jenkins Brazzell, VACHAMPAGNE, Shepherd Mix, Jean Jerbert, CTCHARLIE, Mastiff, Cindee Kakac, MNCHARLIE, Labrador Retriever, Kim Schlotterbeck, ORCLIPPER, Newfoundland, Barbara L. Grob, MICONTESSA, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Janice A. Willis, NCCOZY, Standard Poodle, Micki Marias, OHDULCIE, Dachshund-Chihuahua Mix, Jennifer Tucker, CADUTCHESS, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Martha K. Bryant, ALEBBIE JANIE, Pug, Dan and Peggy Mattingly, AZFINNEGAN, Maltese, Paula M. Sargent, CAGABBY, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Vickey P. Halstead, WAGEMMA, Golden Retriever, Allison M. Jones, WAGORDY, Golden Retriever, Dana Staikides, WAHARLEY, Australian Shepherd, Vincentia Ferrari, WVHOBIE, Poodle Mix, Pepi Feinblatt, CAJOSIE, Shih Tzu, Cathy Leschena, MO

JOY, Standard Poodle, Dawn Torine, MNLOGAN, Golden Retriever, Donald and Kathy Cunningham, OHLUATH, Greyhound, Christie Vereide, MNMADDIE, Schipperke, Anita Read, ORMADDY, Shih Tzu, Cathy Leschena, MOMADISON, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Jeanie C. Calhoun, ARMAGGIE, West Highland White Terrier, Patricia Nagle, AZMME ZOE, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Jeanie C. Calhoun, ARNAPPA, Miniature Schnauzer, Linda Blankenship and D’Ann Downey, GAOWEN, Newfoundland, Alison J. Berlin, MAPARKER, Golden Retriever, Linda Edwards, PAPOLLY, Golden Retriever Mix, Melinda Brown, TNPOWDER, Golden Retriever, Catherine Valeriote, CARAYMOND, Labrador Retriever Mix, Bonnie S. Keller, OHRORIE, Maltese, Nancy Wyers, MNROXY, Australian Shepherd, Gina Marino, WASACHIKO, Japanese Chin, Jean Vafeades, CASADIE, Husky Lab Mix, Margaret Forde, CTSCARLETT, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Jeanie C. Calhoun, ARSOPHIE, Standard Poodle, Katie Kunz, WISUNNY, Ragdoll Cat, Brendan and Sheila Schneider, FLTIPPER, Labrador Retriever Mix, Daniel Cesario, WITRAPPER JOHN, Papillon, Judith Zar, TXTRUFFLES , Dachshund, Pamela L. Hoctel, FLTRUMAN, Black Labrador Retriever, Suni Cookson, CAZOE, Beagle, Susan Fertig, NE

PASSED AWAYABBEY, Bernese Mountain Dog, Laraine Jeffries, CAARA, Shetland Sheepdog, Tracy Newsom, VAAUBRY, Golden Retriever, Donna Latella, CTBASIL, Cocker Spaniel , Virginia L. Sensenbrenner, ILBEAR, Great Pyrenees, Joanne Altemeier, TN BENTLEY, Standard Poodle, Annie Whalen, COBIJOU, Chihuahua, Ellen Nolan, WYBIX, Flat Coated Retriever, Alyce A. Spoto, IABLADE, Rottweiler, Laura Ericson, FLBLARNEY, Chocolate Labrador Retriever, Christine O’Reilly, WIBLUJEANS, Golden Retriever, Jim Harper, COBODHI, Lhasa Apso, Fran Miller, ORBOGIE, Golden Retriever, Sallie Mitchell, CTBONNIE, Whippet, Jean Good, TXBREE, Bull Mastiff, Teresia Kolacek, TXBRIT, Briard, Holly L. Dundore, MNBRUISER, Shih Tzu, Laura Duerr, NJBUDDHA, Leonberger Lisa Pennisi, NEBUDDY, Golden Retriever, Karen Peckham, WIBUDDY, Golden Retriever, Jonilynn Gearhart, AZBUDDY, Rottweiler Mix, Peter Klebes, AKBUFFY, Golden Retriever, Gail Grech, CABUTTON, Bullmastiff, Shirley L. Fry, ORCALLIE JO, Border Collie, Melissa Wagner, MOCATERINA, Labrador Retriever, Barbara l. Miller, ORCHEERIO, Golden Retriever, Cheryl Croft, NV

CHIA SCOLA, Pomeranian, Andrea Scola, NYCHRISTINA, English Shepherd, Leslie Johnson, KSCHUNK, Guinea Pig, Krista L. Renta, CACLIFFORD, Golden Retriever, Claudine P. Singer, CADALLAS, Doberman, Laura A. Galusha, WIDANCER, Italian Greyhound, Susanne Schulz, NJDEVIN, Greyhound, Peggy Clark, AZDIAMOND, Boxer, Christine K. Hinton, OHDIGGER, Bearded Collie, Mary L. Watson, VTDIXIE, Shih Tzu, Mary Pecoul, MSDUKE, Chocolate Labrador Retriever, Claudine P. Singer, CAELLA, Labradoodle, Susan Daily, INELLA, Golden Retriever, Sallie Mitchell, CTELLIE, German Shepherd, Cici Ely, TXELLIOT, Shepherd Mix, Rachael N. Marble, OREMBER, Mix Breed Dog, Jennifer L. Fuhrman, IAENZO, Brittany, Greg Mancuso, CaliforniaGALLAGHER, Briard, Holly L. Dundore, MinnesotaGEMMA, Golden Retriever, Susanna A. Brennan, FLGIGI, Havanese, Cindy Lipton, AZGRACIE, Golden Retriever, Claudine P. Singer, CAGUS, Pomeranian, Diane C. Olsen, DCHAPPY, Australian Shepherd, Thomas and Shirley Deimler, GAHOPE, Golden Retriever, Jan McLean, MIIONA MOON, Shih Tzu, Lisa Kalmanson, CAIRISH, Yellow Labrador Retriever, Sheila A. Thornburgh, CAJ.J., American Eskimo , Karin M. Coombe, ORJACKSON, Australian Shepherd, Judith C. Young, NCJENNA, Shepherd Mix, Janell J. Keider, CAJEWEL, German Shorthaired Pointer, Sharon Strange, VAJOEY, Labrador Retriever Mix, Marci Matson, VTJOY, Cocker Spaniel, Carla A. Corey, NHJOY, Golden Retriever, Samuel W. Morey, AZKAYLA JOY, Black Labrador Retriever, Janet J. Nowicki, INKAYOSS, Chow Chow, Carmen Jane Booth, CTKAZZY, Golden Retriever, Ginna B. Priest, TN

KELLOGG, Yellow Lab , Sandy Neufeld, BCKELSEA, Golden Retriever, Susan Francis, PNKIP, Border Collie, Kris Brown, OHKUMA, Newfoundland, Kimberly A. Foster, MALANI, Bernese Mountain Dog Mix, Nathan l. Stone, TXLAYLA, Golden Retriever, Karen M. Artt, AZLEYNA, Rottweiler, Jennifer Marcus, FloridaLILY, Standard Poodle, Alan Duncan, CTLULU, Chihuahua, Sheri Benshian, CALUNA, Australian Shepherd, Jai Tomlin, ORMADGE, Labrador Retriever Mix, Sharon M. Inglis, COMAGGIE, Chocolate Labrador Retriever, Nancy S. Maurer, AZMAGGIE, Golden Retriever, Carolyn Buono, KSMARLEA, Golden Retriever, Janet Deason, COMAX, Shetland Sheepdog, Sharon Weiser, CAMEI MEI, Boxer, Shiu Mei Bassette, TXMIKEY, Golden Labrador Retriever, Robin D. Lammers, CAMILLIE, Bullmastiff, Rebeka Perrella, SDMINNIE, Black Labrador Retriever, Laurie Lett, VAMINNIE, Dachshund Mix, Betsey W. Roberts, CAMISTER, French Bulldog, Marilyn M. Edwards, OHMOCHA, Chocolate Labrador Retriever, Joyce E. Bird, NMMOLLY, Chocolate Labrador Retriever, Joni L. Stoll, OHMOLLY, Golden Retriever, Lynn Powell, TexasMURPHY, Golden Retriever, Sharon Morcom, MIMURPHY, Golden Retriever Mix, Laura Musil, KSNIC, Welsh Corgi, Barbara E. Sinclair, AZONESOCK, Husky, Kim Heninger, AKOREO, Lop-eared Rabbit, Marcy Ellenbogen, CAORI, Black Labrador Retriever, Nancy O’Brien, ILPATOU, Great Pyrenees, Michelle Coburn, AKPAYSON, Labrador Retriever Mix, Julie Moran, AZPEACHES, Golden Retriever, Kathy E. Larson, CAPRINCESS, Labrador Retriever, Adam Mielke, WIPUMPKIN, Domestic Feline, Carol Olson, NEQUINN, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, LuAnn S. Rogers, OH

Sept 30, 2013 - April 15, 2014

Sasha had a gift for knowing who needed her the most. And more often than not, it was the children: some seriously ill, some struggling with genetic disorders, some who had never connected with anything until Sasha walked into the room. Her gentle spirit was covered in enough silky white fur that the toughest of challenges – if not entire faces – often disappeared whenever someone cuddled up for a hug. For 10 years, Sasha and her owner, Dave Kettering, walked the halls of Minnesota health care facilities, bringing comfort and unconditional love to those who were hurting. The pair spent thousands of hours together, as Sasha bonded with adults and children alike and the two became local celebrities in the Twin Cities. But a decade of hospital visits eventually took a toll, and Sasha was forced to retire last fall. In March, the dog known as the “fluffy white angel who sheds” passed away – perhaps no longer shedding, but still very much an angel.

“Bentley and I were finishing up our visits for the day. As we headed toward the door, a patient saw us walking down the hallway. The patient was with his wife and he was getting a little exercise walking the halls. I saw a big smile on his face; he said he could not believe what he was seeing. This beautiful, well-behaved dog, wagging his tail making him smile, in a hospital! He wanted to get closer, so he knelt down to pet Bentley. He smiled as he felt Bentley’s soft fur and calming presence wash over him. For those moments he forgot all about why he was in the hospital; all his problems were suddenly far, far away. After learning about Pet Partners, he was so excited to get home and tell his children. Since they wanted to get a dog, getting involved in Pet Partners would be the biggest reason why they could.” This was submitted by Bentley’s handler Annie Whalen upon his passing. Although Bentley is gone, it’s uplifting to know that his (and Annie’s) spirit of service lives on in new teams inspired by their work.

RAINBOW, Greyhound, Sharon L. Fricke, KSRALPHIE, Pitbull mix, Marc Garland, OHRIZZO, Golden Retriever, Janet R. Morganm OHROCKY, German Shepherd, Stuart Davidson, MEROCKY, Labrador Retriever, Everett and Linda Lyon, VTROSIE, Scottish Terrier, Ruth H. Hodos, CAROSIE, Golden Retriever, Sara Rostand, CAROXIE, English Bulldog, Scott J. Franklin, NYROXIE, Golden Retriever, Cynthia Bennetts, CARUBY, West Highland White Terrier, Patricia H. Quillen, VARUDY, Golden Retriever, Jo M. Lepse, KSRUSTY, Sheltie, Barbara Schoof, AZSADIE, Mastiff, Victoria Soares, CASADIE, Labrador Retriever, Ann Ganger, ILSAMMY, Australian Shepherd, Sue E. Reid, WISANDY, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Patricia Williams, WASARAH, Labrador Retriever Mix, Wendy Panikker, CTSASHA, Samoyed, David Kettering, MNSAVANNAH, Domestic Rat, Vicki L. Altman, KSSCHNOZ, Fox Terrier, Keirsten Rain, NYSNOOPY, Miniature Schnauzer, Charles Brown, SCSOPHIE, Akita, Alena Picha, LASOPHIE, Shepherd Mix, Whitney Mason, WASPREE, Great Dane, Claire Burke, MTSUNDANCE, Golden Retriever, Diana Salla, OHTAREK, Great Pyrenees, Sarah Wylly, TXTEDDY BEAR, Yorkshire Terrier, Sheila Marie Anderson, FLTESS, Shetland Sheepdog, Robert Daliege, AZTIKVA, Keeshond, Cindy L. Ehlers, ORTOBY, Golden Retriever, Deb Jansky, WITWEED, Border Terrier, Gayle H. Tilles, CAVAREKAI, Yellow Labrador Retriever, Caitlin Smith, ORWIFI, Australian Cattle Dog, Noreen R. Yoshida-Peer, CAZEKEY, Cockatoo, Susan Crane, PAZOE, Golden Retriever, Ellen G. Emert, CTZUZU, Siberian Husky, Elizabeth Friend-Ennis, NY

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Willmetta & Charles Allen *Dr. Robert Anderson *Anonymous Dr. Donna Baer Grace & Larry Ballentine Bernard Baron *Valerie & Richard Beck Sally Becker *Barbara & David Bell Marie Bickel *Nancy & William Biery Frances Bleick *Margaret Bott *Helen Boyd Florence Burkholder Dr. Leo Bustad *Marite Butners Helen Caradonna *Dr. Betty Carmack Dr. Craig & Ronda Carter Dr. Gary & Mary Lynn Champion

Dr. Aphrodite Clamar Cohen Sheila Cohen Fred Cole II *Eugenia Colman *Melody Cook Deborah Morgan Couples *Sophie & Derek Craighead Dr. Merry Crimi Dr. Roy & Lydia Cruzen Janna De Lue Karl Denniss *Stephanie Denniss *Barbara Dimock *The Dogfather (James Schwartz) Virginia Louis Doris *Lt. Cmdr. Constance Dorn Dr. D’Ann Downey Trudy Doyle *Jon & Lynnette Eastlake Karen Edwards Dr. Joan Engel

Lillian Thomas Jones Eure *Janet Fisher Dr. Robert & Catherine Franklin Ann Fuller *Harold Galbraith Nora Gallaher Gilbert Glass Carol Gonnella Charles Granoski Jr. Jane Marie Griffin *Katharine & Goody Harding Barbara Harris Dr. James Harris Todd Hendricks Mary Hill Linda Hines Cheryl HovanickRobin Huckeba Gladine Hudoff *Jennifer Jarpe Joan & Bill Jensen

Jacqueline Joseph George Keely *Marion Kline *Cristine Kossow Marguerite Lachs *Susan Lilley Carolynn Loacker Rebecca Lovejoy Barbara & Wendell Loveless Esther Lyndon Betty and Kendall Manning Dr. Bill & Janice McCulloch Dr. Michael McCulloch *Marilyn McDaniel *Leatrice Meyers *Dr. Queenie Mills *Wayne Minter *Louis Carl Mirabile *Marion Mitton Marilyn & David Mize Davelie & Russell Morgan

Maria Myckaniuk Tom Nelson Billyanna Niland *Katharine Quinn Nolan *Jeannie & Bruce Nordstrom Lawrence Norvell Kyoko O’Neill Martha Jane Pearcy John Remer Jr. Mark Rosenblum Debbie & Robert Ross Michelle & Ed Sayres Dr. Olivia Scarse Theodore Schneider *Jacquetta Schulz *Mal Schwartz Alfred Siegel Michael Siwula Jean & Bob Sneed Carol & Mark Spisak Sandra Squires Dr. Wayne & Sharon Sternberger

Stuard Estate *Walter Stugis Ingrid Sunzenauer Sarah Sweatt Dr. Gregg & Laura Takashima Anne Taubman Edith Lee Taylor *Dr. Irving Taylor Ella Mae & Doc Thomas Dr. Lorna Vanderzanden Verrill Family Trust *Eleanor Vigil Jean Vollum *Dr. William Warley Linda & Craig Wescoatt Julianne Whitcomb Woodside Estate *Dorothy Wynn *

* Bequest received.

Pet Partners Caring CommunityPet Partners wishes to thank the following families who have made provisions in their estate planning for Pet Partners. We appreciate their support that will make their love last forever.

We became involved with Pet Partners because of our own direct experience with the healing power of the human-animal bond and are glad that Pet Partners works to prove and promote the bond through scientific investigation – not just stories such as ours.

It has been the very presence of our cats (Blue, deceased, and Moon, anything but) and our mutt Ursa that soars our spirits and calms our blood pressures on an hourly basis. We can measure that healing impact by our own internal mood meters. And once a month for five years, we traveled two hours up the Hudson to visit Cristine’s father in the NY State Firefighters retirement home –

where we brought Ursa from room to room to light up the faces of one grand old fireman after another. The nursing staff also loved Ursa’s visits for the way that she doled out her spirit-lifting medicine to the gentlemen. We support Pet Partners because we believe in that healing power of the human-animal bond and we applaud how Pet Partners makes it their mission to deliver that medicine on a multi-million-dose scale – which is so sorely needed.

We are encouraged by the recent strategic commitment to take the next steps to acquire an advanced technology platform. Once that investment is made to equip our legions of Pet Partners teams and supporters with technology driven tools to communicate with each other and the broader community of pet lovers, and our medical care community partners, the sky is the limit. We can imagine the smiles that my Ursa put onto the faces of octogenarian firefighters multiplied by the millions, and I get kind of excited. This is one of many reasons that we support Pet Partners’ Caring Community and have provided for Pet Partners’ future in our estate planning.

Cristine Kossow attended the Parsons School of Design. She has designed all the graphic signs for the NYC Marathon for seven years and now concentrates on her fine art paintings and pastels. Walter Stugis is a graduate of Hamilton College and the NYU Stern School of Business; is the chief strategist for the Institute for Nonprofit Excellence and is a Captain in the Hastings-on-Hudson, NY volunteer fire department.

CristineKossow andWalterStugis

Cristine Kossow and Walter Stugis pictured

THINGS WE LIKENORBERT: WHAT CAN LITTLE ME DO?This inspirational picture book features a real-life Pet Partners therapy dog, written by his handler Julie Freyermuth. Determined to find his true purpose in life, Norbert learns that being little doesn’t mean you can’t make a big difference in the world. Illustrated with lovely artwork by Virginia Freyermuth (the author’s mother), this book recently earned the 2014 Silver Winner of the Nautilus Book Awards in the Children’s Picture Book category which recognizes books embodying positive social change and inspirational reading for children. Special offer: Purchase a hard copy of the book at https://pollyparkerpress.leadpages.net/norbertbook/ and receive a FREE copy of the eBook version.

HABRICENTRAL.ORGAn essential component of Pet Partners mission is the promotion of “positive human-animal interactions to improve the physical, emotional and psychological lives of those we serve.” If you are interested in digging deeper into the scientific research behind this thinking, the HABRI Central website is one of the best resources in the world for information. HABRI (Human-Animal Bond Research Initiative) has an online database of more than 17,000 research entries that validate the positive roles of pets and animals in the integrated health of families and communities, leading to informed decisions in human health. HABRI supports research, education, and other charitable activities that validate the positive impact the Human-Animal Bond can have on the integrated health of families and communities. This has been a valuable tool to the staff and teams of Pet Partners and a recommended resource for information on the subject. www.habricentral.org

THE CAT THAT WENT TO HOMECOMING Ellen Jones, the main character in The Cat That Went to Homecoming, is bullied by her adolescent peers. Over the course of a summer, Ellen experiences personal growth through registering with her sweet cat Hershey as a Pet Partners therapy animal team.

This book addresses many serious social issues including family separation, bullying, homophobia, social isolation, and depression. The compelling story is also about fun, friendship and forgiveness. The transformations throughout the novel are not always a direct result of Hershey’s affectionate personality, but Ellen does gain self-confidence as she gets involved with Pet Partners. This strength helps her overcome many other problems in her life.

The author of The Cat that went to Homecoming, Julie Otzelberger, is a registered Pet Partners handler with her cat Bear in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She states that the book is based on her own experiences and hopes that it will inspire other adolescents to discover the benefits of volunteering with Pet Partners, both for the clients and for the handlers themselves.

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In Honor of

Susie AlvadjKay & Carl Parker

Mark Ames & Victoria ReckAlden Taylor

Atlanta Pet Partners, Inc.Christine Thompson

Mariola & George BergquistDr. Linda Walters

Bideawee Learning Center - WantaghJoseph Moosbrugger

Carol, Willoughby & Jenni CoatesCarePartners Foundation

Kabir CohenAlyssa Sharkey

The Corazao FamilyMichelle Corazao

Phillip & Jefferson CrouseWesley Crouse

Tim & Lauren CrowleyPhilip Weihl

Wayne DanielDavid Jolley

Ann DannerBetsie Danner

Nick EssNick Ess

Debra FloresLisa Roberts

Catherine Ford & Jeremy ToddSally Walker

Kathy & John FordSally Walker

Nancy George-MichalsonMimi, Bob & Esther Karlin

Lauren GuarneriMichael Guarneri

Katharine HardingBridget Beattie

Dianne HughesDr. Claire Peel

Bill & Robin HuntBarbara Rowe

Kevin KingJeffrey Nelson

Lynn LoackerMurlene Madison

Gus & Mary MagrinatAmy Magrinat

Marlene Maheu, Laura Struhl & OliviaTeri Louden

Dr. Larry McAfeePam Soltis

Evan MeltzerLisa Meltzer

Pat & Bentley MiyaDon O’Leary

Lyman NeuschaeferSteffany Neuschaefer

The O’Neill FamilyBarbara Fageol

Pet Partners leadership teamBrenda Bax

Portland area volunteersShanna Brownstein

Joetta Prost & Kathy ShellRobert O’Hara

Monika Rogasch, Judy Scott & Steve KellyRosario Rogasch

Carol & Mike RosenEllen Klein

The Rosenthal ClanMichael Rosenthal

Ann & Teddy RosenwasserPEO Chapter FQ

Alex Sahrane & Madison EckerCarol Hatton

Schilsky family & petsRena Wynne Schilsky

Anne Sheley & Karen EcholsTraci Hagler

Michele SiegelMimi, Bob & Esther Karlin

Team Dragon DiggersEric Paget

Anna Voytek & Ch&a FausphoulMadeleine Orr

Aditi VyasAnonymous

Jinny & David Woodall-GaineyPat Davidson

In Honor of Pets

Amos, Spencer & Teddy BarronDarlene Barron

Scarlett & Caneel BartonPat Barton

Maggie BattenJean Batten

Raizel, Ketzel & Shepzel Bin-NunDr. Judith Bin-Nun

Takoda BorsiniCarolyn Borsini

Drake & Norman CarrollJackie Carroll

Bailey & Molly CookChristine Cook

Daisy CrawfordSuzanne Crawford

Casey CuppyDonald Cuppy

Olive DonahueJanet Donahue

Buddy DreyerRegina Dreyer

Oreo EllenbogenMarcy Ellenbogen

Jane FieldsMiriam Fields

Pete & Annie FranklinPatricia Franklin

Alfie GladsteinLisa Gladstein

Chai GundersonAndrea Gunderson

Arizona JaegerBetty Fortney

Chloe KearnsKaren Kearns

Mr. Kobe KilianDave Kilian

Baby KirtnerKarin Kirtner

Jasper LongJanice Long

Malibu Wind MaroneyMary Maroney

Sophie MasonWhitney Mason

Cleo McIntoshSharon McIntosh

Molly MorganDavelie & Russell Morgan

Dudley NelsonGreta Nelson

Dusty NishinagaAnne Kiyomi Nishinaga

Andrew RittermalElizabeth Rittermal

Oliver RiveraDr. Gerald Scharfman

Nate & Merle SpisakMark & Carol Spisak

Kiska & Lowell TannehillLinda Tannehill

Shasta TaylorJudy Taylor

Teddy KnopmanAsya Varshisky

Rigley VernonCarol Vernon

Dash WhitmanPatricia Whitman

In Memory of

Faye AxelrodRichard Sperling

Harriette Babb & StewartHolly Brown

Tanya BickleyLouise Kaminer

Shirley BrochesterStephanie Calmenson

Clifford A. BrodricksTerri Malmgren

Judy BrownSuzanne & John ArlandCarole BloodgoodHerb BrownHancock Regional Hospital GuildDr. Dawn MerrittDoug MooreWendell & Narcissa Smith

Linda Buettner, PhDFay Marie Gardner

Al CoopermanMichelle Kimmelman

Margaret CraigDawn Lum

Mark A. DingerCynthia Brock

Tyler DodgeDr. Bettina Riccio

Richard “Bucky” FlintWendi & Bruce Rank

Kimball Glassco, Sr.James Whistler

Harold HarrisKathleen Duffy

Masako HayakawaChesi HoDr. Estelle Sandhaus

Jerry HillLeigh & Roger Nowell

David JonesJase Schwartz

Kara KelleherPeter Hess

David LernerLoryn Halper

Stacie LundquistTaya Moxley-Goldsmith

Ralph MageeTeresa Ard

Carol MaslanskySteve Maslansky

Waldo & Ada MatchetteJeanette & John Matchette

Alice McCollumBetty & Kendall Manning

Jane McCullochDr. Stanley & Darlene DieschDr. Bill & Janice McCulloch

Sue McGownMargo Isaacks

Madelin McTagueLinda FreezeShirley & Greg Romszewicz

Bob MichalsonNancy George-MichalsonMarilyn Shapiro

Queenie B. Mills, PhDClover Gowing

Rodney MortensonMonroe Kaplan

George PresslerJenabeth Ferguson

Dr. Robert RauchDr. Perry Opin

Morton RudbergLinda Vickery

Steven Saint-AubinLynn Harrigan

Debbie SannesDawn Steel

Janie SenftBette Resis

Noboru TakashimaDr. Mike Flynn & Kim Ratuski

Olga TararaMary Jo Piazza

Kathy TegardenBriley Culton

Janet ThallFalon Terry

Jamie TulchinAtlantic Theater CompanyWalter Bregman

W.R. “Tute” & Opal WaltmanJeanette & John Matchette

Sandi WisdomJuliene Hiatt

In Memory of Pets

Tigger AllsoppJennifer Fedorchak

Fiona Bologna AndersonKatrina Anderson

Tasha AndersonTender Paws

Pepper AndrewsDr. Scott Gallatin

Baby BacinValerie Jenkins

Fez BarettaNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

PT BarrickNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Chandler BarryNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Mei Mei BassetteShiu Mei Bassette

Heidi BeardMona Beard

Reese BeaucampDr. Scott Gallatin

Daisy BeaudryDr. Scott Gallatin

Rizzo BeckLynnette & Jon Eastlake

Bella BevilleDr. Scott Gallatin

Chelsea BiedronskiNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Mocha BirdCarlsbad Pet Therapy Association, Inc.Barbara Stafford

Casey, Di & Norman BorodinskyLouis & Barbara Borodinsky

Angel BowersNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Rose BrownNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Stormy BubisDr. Scott Gallatin

Louie BurchallDr. Scott Gallatin

Cocoa CarterNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Smokey & Max ChurchJohn Church

Sasha ChurchvilleNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Tiger ClareNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Buster CohenMartha Harris

Yaya CollinsNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Finley ConradDr. Scott Gallatin

J.J. CoombeKarin Coombe

Arpege CoopersmithNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Millie CoyleDr. Scott Gallatin

Sampson CraleyBrenda Craley

Cheerio CroftSue Grundfest

Malcom CulbreathNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Taz CummingsDr. Scott Gallatin

Ella DailySarah DeLone

Ollie DavisCarol Michaels

Nutmeg DeaneNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Daphney DeanerDuane Deaner

Thomas DeForgeRonald Yucas

Happy DeimlerShirley & Thomas Deimler

Jersey DesautelsDr. Lynn Desautels

Gracie DevivoDr. Scott Gallatin

Sidney DhossouNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Tiger Galileo DiazNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Thor DiorioDr. Scott Gallatin

Katie DohertyJoyce Strickler

Jazz DossNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Kiwi ElbertNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Goldie FannoneyNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Moses FeigelDr. Scott Gallatin

Jake FildermanNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Cocoa FineNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Cheech FitzgibbonsDr. Scott Gallatin

Precious FleissnerJoyce Fleissner

Kela FoleyDr. Scott Gallatin

Franklin family petsPatricia Franklin

Wylie FultzDr. Paul McCullough

Cher GaddisDr. Scott Gallatin

Kitty GilbertNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Rocky GilesDr. Scott Gallatin

Rosie GillioDr. Scott Gallatin

Hershey GlotzDr. Scott Gallatin

Gabriel GoldTerry Gold

Bonnie GoodJean Good

Annie Gordon-LentschDr. Sarah White

Melody GotowskiDr. Scott Gallatin

Chopper GrantDr. Scott Gallatin

Cody McGee GregoireMeredith Tennis

Lola GriffinDeborah & Hupert Fassett

Lola GriffinDr. Scott Gallatin

Kirby GrundfestKelly Leerman

Stinkie GruzlewskiDr. Scott Gallatin

Chelsea & Haley GrzegorzewskiCindy Grzegorzewski

Jynx GudykaDr. Scott Gallatin

Tuba GwynnNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Chrissy HallDr. Scott Gallatin

Bentley HamiltonNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Absinthe HaneyDani Weiss

Blujeans HarperAnonymous

Dolly & Murphy HarrisWalter Harris

Amy HarrisNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Rusty HeasleyDiane Heasley

Mr. Murphy HerodCarole Sandy

Isabella HillNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Marley HolmesNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Maggie HumesDr. Scott Gallatin

Muffin IngramNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Nicholas Jessup-PoseyNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Champ JoblonskiDr. Scott Gallatin

Lily JonesStephanie Calmenson

Medea KaeserNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Simba KaplanNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Alric KassidayNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Jenna KeiderCHOC Children’s at Mission HospitalBarbara RawnsleyNancy Singleton

Sophie KennedyJulie Delano

Bumper KesslerNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Twinkle KlingenbergNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Peggy KniepsDr. Scott Gallatin

Ozzy KopczynskiDr. Scott Gallatin

Honor and Memorial Donations Special thanks to the following donors who, by contributing to Pet Partners, remember the special spirit of an animal or person that touched their lives.

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PEER-TO-

PEER

Polly KotlarzDr. Scott Gallatin

Flip KucherRolf Kucher

Fluffy LambertNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Bailey LeermanSue Grundfest

Ace LeslieDr. Scott Gallatin

Hudson LighterNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Gigi LiptonNancy Maurer

Basil LobelMelissa Hoppe

Gracie LorattoNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Sadie MacKenzieJudy MacKenzie

Harley MalziPeggy Ann Bizjak

Pie MansfieldNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Sadie MartinStephanie Calmenson

Mac MathisNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Maggie MaurerJohn Dallmus

Zeus MayersAdele Mayers

Tessi McCadamPaul & Marsha McCadam

Juno McCallNelda McCall

Sonny, Ruby, Willy, Gordon, Riley & Megan McConnaugheyPaula Simon

Molly MedelDr. Scott Gallatin

Romeo MensoneDr. Scott Gallatin

Maggie MillerJeanette Matchette

Rocko MogboDr. Scott Gallatin

KC Mohr&rea & Robert Mohr

Scooby MontanoNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Payson MoranJulie Moran

Noel MorelandNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Lexi MorrisDr. L. Austin Strauch

Sherman, Kobe, Britany & Noel MoserSue Moser

Mocha MuralNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Snuggles MurilloNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Chloe NealonNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Mickey NouravarsaniNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Dottie “The Dot Cat” O’BrienWilliam O’Brien

Timber O’ConnorNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Dutchess O’DonnellDr. Scott Gallatin

Shams O’LearyDr. Rebecca Clearman

Pumpkin OlsonCarol Olson

Nissa O’MalleyDr. Scott Gallatin

Kelly OrtnerStephanie Calmenson

Heidi PachterNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Pete PalmerNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Bunny ParkerDr. Bettina Riccio

Maddie ParkerKatharine Harding

Jake & Dutch PaskertSara & Thomas Paskert

Honey PateDr. Scott Gallatin

Max PelinoDr. Scott Gallatin

Nellie PerichDr. Scott Gallatin

Smokey PerryDavid Perry

Zonker PhersonNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Gustafson PhersonNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Scooter PoeJ.R. & Buddy Poe

Layla PowellNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Bodhi Whippet PowersLinda Sobottka

Linus PrattHolly Pratt

Frankie ProffittNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Harley ProffittNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Fiona-Rose RedmanNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Suzy ReinhartSharon Cook

Treasure RickettsBarbara Ricketts

Flash RostandNancy LippmanTedd Rosenfeld

Oscar RoyerAnne Marie Scibelli

Tex RuffDr. Scott Gallatin

Maya May RussellJulie A. Russell

Ivory RyanMarilyn Ryan

Happy San AgustinNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Jaeger SasserBarry & Paulette Mills

Smokey SchultzDr. Scott Gallatin

Dancer SchulzDarlene Slezak

Chia ScolaGreer Griffith

Mack ShermanNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

B, B, B, B, B & Amy ShoopCharles Shoop

Nic SinclairBarbara Norval Sinclair

Onyx SinclairNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Barney & Monty SkellyDr. Scott Gallatin

Baxter SmithNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Ranger SparkDidi & Dike Dame

Bix SpotoJay Brady

Midnite StairBruce & Beth Stair

Tazzy StollerLucky Seven FoundationPhilip Stoller

Lani StoneAngel Paws, Inc.

Carmella StrachanNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Ruth SuwanskiDr. Scott Gallatin

Sophie & Tucker Taubman-BoyleHelena Galper

Jingle TempleLora Whitney

Suzy TerwilligerAnne Terwilliger

Chessie, Raggs, Simba, Jasmine & Brandy ThielenSuzanne Thielen

Bandit ThorneLawrence Edelblum

Butters TillmanMarian Tillman

Lucy TornelloJoyce Strickler

Beringer TousleyMartha Tousley

Dallas Cowboy TurnerNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Molly VanLiewDr. Sarah Kaufman

Missy WalshDr. Scott Gallatin

Angel WareMarilee W. Snyder

Gabby Jane WeatherbeeGloria Weatherbee

Amkus WerkmanDr. Scott Gallatin

Jimmy WhiteGloria White

Sassy WhiteNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Oreo WilbergNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Maya WilderDr. Scott Gallatin

Ashlyn WildermanElaine Wilderman

Bijou Binks WilliamsLiliana Williams

Lassie Cat WilliamsonJan Williamson

Buddy WilsonDr. Scott Gallatin

Max WilsonDr. Scott Gallatin

Clementine WintersDr. Scott Gallatin

Presley WiseNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Mystic WoodDr. Scott Gallatin

Tracker WorkerDr. Scott Gallatin

Baron WurzbergerNegola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital

Wi-Fi Yoshida-PeerDr. Lois Abrams

Calypso YoungJennie Marsh

Pet Partners and many of our volunteers from

across the country have been participating

in Peer-to-Peer online giving. Also known as

social fundraising, it gives Pet Partners’ fans

the opportunity to share their passion for our

mission with their friends and family and help to

raise funds to support our teams and their work.

Pet Partners advocates have exceptional stories

to tell and we have been excited to have their

help. P2P fundraising gives individual teams the

opportunity to help raise funds through a simple

online process and earn prizes that include the

waiving of their registration fee, vests, etc. to

lower expenses.

Our congratulations go out to Christina Bunn,

Joseph Greeff, Debra Kelly and Tara Martinez,

our top fundraisers in the very first campaign.

Thank you to all who participated.

If you would like to take part in the next

Peer-2-Peer campaign, please send an email

to P2P@petpartners.org with “YES 2nd

round” in the subject line.

WHAT’S NEW • The Team Evaluator Policies and Procedures Guide has been

updated with a new look and feel, as well as some content updates. Available this June, It can be found on the Evaluator Resources page at www.petpartners.org/EvaluatorResources

• The educational resource, Animal Assisted Crisis Response, was released in late March to provide resources to teams interested in doing this important work and may also be found on the Pet Partners website.

• Based on the popularity of Volunteering with Your Pet, we have planned two specialty webinars for cat and horse owners interested in what it takes to become a registered team with Pet Partners. If you or someone you know miss the live presentation, they will be available for playback on our website free of charge. Horses are featured in July and cats in October.

• The new continuing education course, Visiting Clients with Alzheimer’s and Other Forms of Dementia, is targeted to be available in July free of charge for all registered teams.

• An Evaluator Symposium is scheduled for October 11-12 in the San Pedro/Los Angeles area to discuss how we can ensure the Pet Partners evaluation continues to be the professional standard among AAT programs. For registration information go to petpartners.org/team-evaluator-symposium

• Several practicums are scheduled to be held during the spring and summer of 2014, including Tucson AZ, Cincinnati OH, Madison WI, Portland OR, Rome GA, Roanoke VA and more. For information, go to www.petpartners.org

WEBINAR DATES

For Prospective Handlers• VolunteeringwithYourPet,May21,withSusanTiss• VolunteeringwithYourHorse,July17,withVictoriaNodiff-Netanel• VolunteeringwithYourCat,Oct24,withDionDostaler• VolunteeringwithYourPet,Nov17,withSusanTiss

For Current Handlers• ReneworRetire?KeepingYourAnimalHappy,July30,withPatricia Tirrell• VisitingfromYourAnimal’sPerspective,Aug7,withKateTitus

For Team Evaluators• GivingEffectiveFeedbacktoNA/NRTeams,June26, with Laure MacConnell• EvaluatingRabbitsandGuineaPigs,September25, with Patti Anderson

For registration and questions email supportolc@petpartners.org

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Pet Partners is the leader in demonstrating and promoting positive human-animal interaction to improve the physical, emotional and psychological lives of those we serve.Pet Partners, founded in 1977, is a pioneer in the field of researching and promoting the health benefits of the human-animal bond.

• The prevalence of this field of study has grown dramatically over the past 37 years. Academic research continues through many prestigious organizations. • Animal-Assisted Therapy is now widely recognized and respected as an adjunct treatment modality in many professions. • Pet Partners has increased our presence as the Gold Standard for visiting animal programs across North America.

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT NO.71BELLEVUE, WA

875 - 124th Ave NE, Ste. 101Bellevue, WA 98005-2531