Latest news with #PetPartners
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Join Pet Partners' World's Largest Pet Walk to Support Therapy Animal Teams Worldwide
A global fundraising event to bring therapy animal visits to more communities will be held September 27 BELLEVUE, Wash., June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pet lovers across the globe are gearing up for the eighth annual World's Largest Pet Walk, taking place on Saturday, September 27. Presented by Wellness Pet Company, this fundraiser benefits Pet Partners, the nation's leading therapy animal organization. Walkers of all ages—and species—are invited to step out in support of therapy animal teams that bring comfort and connection to the people who need it most: veterans, children, older adults, first responders, and others facing physical, mental, or emotional challenges. Unlike typical fundraiser walks, there's no set course or time. Participants can walk solo, with family and friends, at work, or in their local community. You can walk anywhere, anytime. Whether you stroll around the block or hike your favorite trail, with or without a pet, this event is about celebrating the human-animal bond and raising vital funds for the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program. "The World's Largest Pet Walk is more than a fundraiser: it's an event that gets us moving with our pets, demonstrating one more way they positively impact human health," said C. Annie Peters, President & CEO of Pet Partners. "And, with every step, walkers help support therapy animals that make meaningful visits to people in need throughout the year." Registration for this event is free, and participants are encouraged to fundraise in support of therapy animal visits. Fundraisers who reach key milestones by August 15 will receive special event gear, including a commemorative bandanna or t-shirt. Additional incentive levels and recognition opportunities are available throughout the campaign. Pet Partners is urging individuals, families, companies, and community groups to walk, fundraise, and spread the word. All proceeds help recruit, train, and register volunteer therapy animal teams who deliver these life-changing visits. Visit to start a team or donate. Whether you're walking with a pet or in their honor, every step makes a difference. Share your journey online with #WorldsLargestPetWalk and help raise awareness of the incredible impact therapy animals make every day. About Pet PartnersPet Partners is the leader in the therapy animal field for registering volunteer teams. Since 1977, we have supported thousands of teams in making millions of meaningful visits across the country and around the world. Through the human-animal bond, we can improve the physical, social, and emotional lives of both the people and animals involved. Pet Partners supports volunteer teams by offering the highest quality preparation, an unmatched approach to evaluation and registration—for nine different types of animals, and a focus on connections. We elevate the importance of therapy animal visits, and our teams help build a healthier and happier world for us all. Whether or not you have a pet, learn more about sharing the human-animal bond by visiting View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Pet Partners Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Malaysian Reserve
21-04-2025
- General
- Malaysian Reserve
Pet Partners Announces its 2025 Pet of the Year Winner: River the Golden Retriever
Connecticut Golden Retriever brings in $14,141 to support therapy animal visits nationwide BELLEVUE, Wash., April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — After six weeks of an exciting fundraising competition, River, a golden retriever who lives in Rowayton, CT, has earned the title of 2025 Pet Partners Pet of the Year. With support from his human, Katy Rahe, River has not only captured hearts nationwide but also raised more than $14,000 for Pet Partners, the nation's leading organization registering therapy animals for animal-assisted interventions. River is one of 134 pets that participated in the competition. Pets from 34 states, the UK, and Romania competed with the support of over 215 loving humans for the Pet of the Year title. While 100 of the competitors were dogs, there were also 18 cats, five rabbits, three llamas/alpacas, three guinea pigs, one equine, one bird, one pig, one mouse, and one domestic rat vying for the top honor. Their efforts raised vital funds to support the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program, which brings unconditional love, happiness, and healing to millions of seniors, patients, veterans, children, and others in need around the world. River and Katy are registered with Pet Partners, and River is Katy's second therapy dog. Katy has been a Pet Partners volunteer since 2019 and is also an evaluator. The Community Partner Katy volunteers with is Pet Partners of Fairfield County (CT) which was established four years ago. Many of the volunteers participate in the World's Largest Pet Walk and numerous dog festivals. River and his fundraising team garnered donations by asking friends and family for support, held a raffle, and partnered with a local boutique to host a shopping event. Koda from Bangor, ME and Ruby from Newington, CT raised an impressive $12,567.36 combined. This remarkable achievement positioned them as second and third place winners, respectively, in the competition. 'I am both deeply humbled and excited that River was named 2025 Pet Partners Pet of the Year,' said Katy Rahe. 'Being a volunteer with Pet Partners both as an evaluator and handler with River, I see firsthand the connection of the human-animal bond and the impact it makes. Raising funds for an organization that is dedicated to increasing the human-animal bond was easy to talk about and to ask for donations. I am grateful for everyone who contributed to and supported Pet Partners on behalf of River. River and I are committed to being the 2025 Ambassadors for Pet Partners in support of the important work they do.' The competition, which kicked off on March 3 and ran through April 14, raised over $80,000 to support Pet Partners. It was open to all pets, including those that have crossed the Rainbow Bridge, and not just therapy animals. Many people who entered their pets wanted to share their personal stories about the benefits of the human-animal bond while fundraising for a mission they believe in. 'We are continually amazed by and grateful for the dedication shown by our Pet of the Year participants,' said C. Annie Peters, President & CEO of Pet Partners. 'Their commitment to supporting all our wonderful therapy animal teams embodies the spirit of our organization. Congratulations to River and Katy Rahe and thank you to everyone who helped make the 2025 Pet of the Year a success.' As the winner, River not only claims the national title, but also thousands of dollars' worth of prizes for his exceptional fundraising skills. River will participate in a professional photoshoot, be interviewed on the national Oh Behave! show on Pet Life Radio and the Four Legged Life Podcast and receive a wide variety of pet-focused treats, services, accessories, and other prizes. For more details or to request interviews with the national winner, please contact Pet Partners at communications@ About Pet Partners Pet Partners is the leader in the therapy animal field for registering volunteer teams. Since 1977, we have supported thousands of teams in making millions of meaningful visits across the country and around the world. Through the human-animal bond, we can improve the physical, social, and emotional lives of both the people and animals involved. Pet Partners supports volunteer teams by offering the highest quality preparation, an unmatched approach to evaluation and registration—for nine different types of animals, and a focus on connections. We elevate the importance of therapy animal visits, and our teams help build a healthier and happier world for us all. Whether or not you have a pet, learn more about sharing the human-animal bond by visiting
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Cincinnati therapy dog logged over 200 visits. Now he's running for Pet of the Year
Northern Kentucky resident Mary Sargent was being discharged from a ten-day hospital stay at St. Elizabeth when she learned about their Paws for Patients program – the initiative connecting fuzzy, four-legged therapy animals with those receiving medical treatment. She did a little research and found out St. Elizabeth recruits its therapy animals (namely, dogs and two beloved rabbits) from the Greater Cincinnati chapter of Pet Partners, a nonprofit deploying therapy animal teams across the country. Sargent didn't get a chance to visit with a therapy animal during her hospital stay, but she remembers thinking how nice it would've been to cut through the emotional hardship with a cameo from a furry friend. Soon after that, in 2019, Sargent bought an eight-week-old Shetland Sheepdog named Dax, better known today by his online persona Dax the Therapy Dog. Once he was old enough, the pup was certified to do therapy work under the same program, Pet Partners. Dax tackled in-person workshops and a final evaluation where his behavior was tested in different scenarios, like responding to someone with a walker or in a wheelchair, Sargent said. Securing his certification in November 2022, Dax had his first visit at Florence's Gateway Community and Technical College under his belt come December. Since then, the now five-year-old Dax has followed his honorable therapy-dog quest across the Tri-State region, logging over 200 total visits with students in K-12 schools, colleges and universities and with patients at hospitals like St. Elizabeth. "Someone could be sitting and getting the worst news of their life and (the dogs) walk in and the mood instantly changes," Sargent said about Dax's hospital visits. The therapy dogs can sense who in a crowd needs some love and comfort, Sargent added. Dax's therapy prowess has also earned him a spot on Pet Partners' crisis response team, which brings therapy animals to sites of natural, manmade or technological disasters. Locally, Dax has been dispatched to fire and police departments and a 911 call center to comfort first responders. Sargent's journey with Dax is a familiar one – she previously had a sheltie named Loki certified as a therapy dog. Upon retiring from being a high school administrator, Sargent wanted to give back to the community, so she started teaching part-time at a middle school in the Boone County School District, and Loki came along with her. "The kids were amazing with (Loki). They'd be quiet in the halls and come in and pet him ... He was just a little mascot, and I enjoyed watching people's behavior with him, including the teachers, and I just wanted to continue doing that," Sargent said. She says she started bringing Loki into the school one day a week, then the principal asked to bump up the visits to multiple times a week, which soon became nearly every day of the week. "Attendance is better, the kids are better when he's in the building ... even the teachers are (less) stressed," Sargent remembers the Boone County Schools principal telling her. Sargent knew Loki's impact on students and teachers was special, and she wanted to continue that therapy work after Loki died five years ago. Her two beagles at home weren't suited for therapy work, she says. So along came Dax. For the second year in a row, Dax boasts a nomination for Pet of the Year, a six-week Pet Partners fundraiser supporting its Therapy Animal Program (Dax fell short of claiming the title last year, losing to a miniature horse named Darby). Dax is joined by fellow Greater Cincinnati therapy dogs Elvis and Rosie in the competition, which runs from March 3-April 14 and features pets of all shapes and sizes, from cats and dogs to rats and guinea pigs. The organization's goal is to raise over $100,000 to help therapy animals like Dax continue visits across the U.S. Whichever pet raises the most funds will earn the prestige of Pet of the Year. Those interested can donate toward Pet Partners' fundraising efforts and vote for Elvis here, vote for Dax here and for Rosie here. Meet all the pets currently in the running for the national title at This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincy therapy dog nominated for Pet of the Year by national nonprofit
