Pet Partners

I am trying to become a volunteer for this organization. I am rating this three stars, but with the potential to increase, but at this time, I have found my experience frustrating and confusing, with little resources or help to point me in the right direction.

I am trying to get my dog certified as a Pet Partners therapy dog. I am over a year and a few hundred dollars into this process. The Pet Partners website isn't very clear on what the steps are to go through this, much of it is figuring it out on your own. I took the CGC test to enroll my dog in the therapy dog class, did well in the class according to my instructor. The test is independent of the class, but it's nearly impossible to find someone to administer the evaluation. The Pet Partners website doesn't offer any schedule, and when I emailed, they told me I had to email around to find someone to schedule it. This began in September, and it did not get scheduled until December (that's like a year and a half in dog years!) and I ended up emailing several individual people. Finally the evaluation day arrived, I showed up as prepared as I could be, and was humiliated, told that the class I took didn't count and didn't matter, that because the evaluator didn't know my class instructor she thought it was worthless, and basically walked out in tears after being told everything I had done didn't matter.

All my information came from either the Pet Partners website, or the class I took, much of which I had to figure out on my own. So now, after over a year (most of this waiting around to take the test and the course) and all the time and money I have spent, I am back where I started, and embarrassed in front of many local Pet Partner community members.

I have been exposed to Pet Partners' work for nearly 6 years now, and I am honored to be serving on the board. I continue to be impressed with the focus that the founders, staff and committed volunteers have to create the most ethical and effective pet interactions within a therapy environment. Whether that be for impromptu visits to nursing homes or directed visits to patients with specific therapy goals. The founders began this standard. I like to call it the "Delta Standard"(the organization was previously named the Delta Society). And the current staff and 11,000+ teams bring it to life in their work. When you talk with them or watch their work, you feel it. This is impressive and critically important because there is a growing level of "pet therapy" happening all across the country and the work must deliver safe and effective outcomes for both ends of the leash.

being involved with Pet Partners (Delta Society) has been a life changing event. They have always done a great job supporting me first as a Pet Partner, then evaluator, team instructor and affiliate. I see first hand how the staff works together as a team and is supported by terrific board members who bring so much experience, knowledge and expertise to the table. Pet Partners is by far the best program of it's kind. Thank you for allowing me to be part of this wonderful organization.

As a board member and volunteer, I know Pet Partners is committed to the mission of demonstrating and promoting positive human-animal interaction.

My dog Guinness and I are a Pet Partner team and I know our visits help people feel better and have an improved outlook because of the effect a caring human and affectionate animal have on them!

Pet Partners is a great organization to be a part of.

Great, life-changing cause with incredibly dedicated volunteers and staff members!

I have had the opportunity to volunteer with this wonderful organization since June 2010. There have been countless encounters that I have been fortunate enough to share with each of my therapy dogs. The benefits we humans gain from interacting with therapy animals are enormous and are just beginning to be utilized. As one of the newest Board Members I look forward to spreading the word about Pet Partners and helping these benefits become used in everyday life in a responsible and safe way that both humans and animals can prosper.

I recently joined the Board but have supported this organization for 16 years. I used to work there (in another life) and continue to be moved by the therapy-animal teams that have such a profound effect on people in need. Whether it's a visit to a senior in a nursing home or encouraging a child to participate in physical therapy (which I've witnessed personally), these teams make a huge difference in peoples' lives. I would encourage you to check them out and watch the video on their website (www.petpartners.org).

My French Bulldog, Charlotte and I have been Pet Partners for almost 4 years. Doing this important work with her has been the highlight of my life aside from the birth of my grandson. It has been my pleasure to meet so many wonderful people and to watch how faces and attitudes change simply by petting a little yellow dog.

I recently started working for a subsidiary of Pet Partners, Teton County PAL in Jackson Hole Wyoming. Because I'm so new, I've spent the last few weeks asking a lot of questions of Pet Partners and am so pleased with how much knowledge I have gained from them. They are extremely nice, quick to respond and have been VERY eager to help TC PAL sign up more evaluators. They have gone above and beyond to help us build a stronger presence in the Rocky Mountain West Region. Thank you PP!

I am a volunteer Pet Therapy handler, along with my giant Labradoodle, Thumper. Pet Partners has supplied the excellent training, evaluation and support we need to help put a smile on the face of people who could use some comfort. They did such a great job, that I enrolled in their Team Evaluator training course, and can now help other teams serve their community.

Joining this organization in 1991, I became one of the first evaluator/instructors for the program. As a professional trainer and behavior consultant, I was on the committee that designed the testing procedure for teams registering for Pet Partners. My goal was to help a pediatric hospital (Childrens Hospital of Akron, OH) start a activity/therapy dog program. After a year of discussion, the program started with 8 dog in 1993. Today we have over 75 teams registered in the program now called the "Doggie Brigade". there are at least 2 dogs in the hospital every day! The children, parents and staff have embraced this program like no other in the history of the hospital. From their lead, several other hospitals in NE Ohio and beyond have initiated programs like the Doggie Brigade. I continue to volunteer with both Childrens Hospital of Akron and with Pet Partners to make this the best certifying and educational program involved in animal assisted activity and therapy.

I have been a volunteer and an Evaluator with Pet Partner formerly Delta Society for the last 8 years. I currently have 2 French Bulldogs who are my pet partners in our endeavor to enrich peoples lives through pets. Pets create an environment that is safe and secure for both adults and children to open up, talk and connect. I have seen how pets affect seniors in retirement facilities, especially when seniors are scared or grieving. After my dog Chester died, my dog Babs went through a long phase of grieving. Babs seemed to understand the grief Seniors were experiencing and because of this she was great with them. When Seniors see our pets and touch their soft coats, I can see the shine in their eyes. I see the look these adults had when they got their first pet. The look of wonderment one might see in a child's eyes.
Its just wonderful to see one of these pets do their magic.
I have also seen children in so much pain after surgery, unwilling to walk because of the pain, but willing get out of bed so they could walk one of the pet therapy dogs.
Yes, these volunteers do their magic with their pets. I just wanted to thank Pet Partners for the training and guidance they provide to allow us to do this work.

Pet Partners HAS turned around! The new Program Director is fantastic and has already released the updated online evaluator course. The only problem is that there still aren't enough evaluators around the country, but this will change now :) They have a new promotional video out. If you're interested in seeing what they do, watch it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCXXxfVCA6Y

PAWS crossed that the new CEO can turn around Delta Society ~ now known as Pet Partners. This mission is so important and profound - the human/animal bond. The research proves there is really is a healing power through pets. But the organization has lost major donors, many volunteers and had quite a bit of staff turnover in the past two years. With the new President of the Board of Directors being in senior management at Purina ~ one wonders how much influence she (Brenda Bax) had that caused the ban on therapy dogs and cats who eat raw food diets. And also, how much $$ Purina is 'donating' to DS/PPs and what their hidden agendas are for this organization....a tad worrisome.

This Charity is devoted to promoting the Human-Animal Bond. They work to help sick people through therapy and service animals. They have a pet-partner program that teaches people the skills needed to visit safely with animals in hospitals, nursing homes, classrooms, etc.