Brutus is a 7 year old Golden Doodle. We have been a therapy team for 4 years. We just passed our 3D evaluation, so we are starting our 5th year of therapy work. I am a retired advertising executive, and Brutus and I live in Lebanon with my wife, cat, and Jack Russel Terrier, Ziggy. We make 4 visits each week, all in Lebanon. We visit Alzheimer's patients at Otterbein Retirement Center, Arrowsprings Tri-health Medical Center, and we visit special needs classes at both the high school, and at Bowman elementary. The smiles and joy Brutus brings to either an 80 year Alzheimer's patient, or a 6 year old child in a wheelchair is why we continue to enjoy our therapy work. It is a wonderfully rewarding, and fun way to give back!
My name is Karen Howell, I've been a member since 2012. I truly love being a therapy dog volunteer. I have two collies, Shaunessy who is 7 years old and Jedadiah who is 5. We visit Mercy Anderson Hosp, Clermont Mercy Hosp., Hospice of Cin, Georgetown Veterans Home and we have a read program at the Mt Orab library. I do fit my full time job, grandchildren and ailing mother in there as well as my church. I'm also one of the newest Team Evaluator and I truly thank you for trusting me with that honor. Thank you for all you do Pet Partners!!!
My name is Karen Miller and my therapy dog's name is Bella. We live in Huntington, WV and became members in October of 2016 once Bella passed her Pet Partners evaluation in Cincinnati. Bella is a rescue dog, a loving, 7 year old yellow Labrador. Since joining, we have visited many retirement homes and have also done a reading program at our library. However, our passion for the broken-hearted has led us to our local Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House bringing love and comfort to patients and families facing the end-of-life journey. Bella is the only therapy dog presently but the impact of her visits have been so beneficial that I have now been asked to help towards growing the therapy dog program at this wonderful Hospice House! The moments we have shared with families as well as the staff have been amazing. What an blessing it is to be able to brighten up a room full of people in otherwise dim circumstances, as well as, relieve the stress on nurses caring for the terminally ill with the joy and love of a dog! The investment of time and love shared with others is returned a hundred-fold experiencing first-hand the comfort, joy and companionship a dog brings to our families there. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be involved in pet therapy with Bella!
I live in Loveland, Ohio and have been a therapy dog handler since 2012. My employment background is in Information Technology as a Business Systems Analyst, where I defined business users' technology needs and then designed technical solutions for them. Roxie and I have been a therapy dog team since she was one year old in California, and joined Pet Partners after moving to Cincinnati in 2015. We visit schools and participate in their science fairs and many reading programs where children read to the dogs. We also visit assisted living facilities and retirement homes. It is incredibly rewarding to see the immediate and positive effect our visits have on people. The most memorable times are seeing residents in an assisted living facility's memory unit, sitting in a dazed and unresponsive state, suddenly become animated and responsive when Roxie approaches as they pet her and speak to her. Another touching moment was when a first grade boy read a story to Roxie, which I later found out was the first time he ever read a book out loud. Therapy dogs touch a special place in people's hearts and minds and it's a beautiful thing to be a conduit for that. I love living in the Greater Cincinnati area and plan to live here and do therapy dog work for the rest of my days.
Finn will be 7 in January and has been a registered therapy pet since 2012. He is a "Parti Pom" meaning a partial-color Pomeranian. He is considered a "throwback Pom" since he is larger than most Pomeranians, meaning he is closer to his Spitz heritage. He visits Ronald McDonald House, and participates in the Clermont County Library "Barks and Books" program, St. Veronica's School "Pages and Paws" program, and the Kids Club Special Needs Ministry at Crossroads Community Church. His favorite toy is Lamb Chop, for which he of course has seasonal versions of for each holiday!
My registered dogs are Kirby, Fox and Rue Kirby and Foxx go to Shriners Burn's hospital for Children. Childrens Reading events at schools. Kirby is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Foxx is a Schipperke and he goes to Shriners also. Rue is not exactly fond of little kids but they kids 8 and up. He like so he sometimes goes to Shriners but much perfers active kids. I have been with Pet Partners since 2002. I have had many dogs in Pet Partners since 2002. I have done lectures for the workshops on Stress Management. I show dogs and have done obedience, agility, barn hunt, lure coursing, breed competition but the ribbon that means the most me was for Daubie My House Elf with 200 visits. The ribbon is given by the American Kennel Club. When I lost Daubie the North Central and Reading Rd library dedicated a book in his honor. A Dog's Purpose. I started in Children's hospital with Kippie. He was a once of a lifetime teacher for me. He is the reason and the purpose why I serve in Therapy work. He would have had well over 500 visits. He was an excellent teacher.
My name is Karen Spradlin and I am a retired high school and college educator. My Pet Partner, Baxter, is a six year old rescued Labradoodle. I have been doing therapy work since 2009. We visit hospitals, nursing homes, schools, mental health facilities, libraries and the Juvenile Detention Center. I am a Pet Partners ® Evaluator and Instructor. Last year, after giving a presentation to a group of mental health patients, a lady in the audience said, "Do you remember me?" I stammered a little because I didn't remember her but before I could answer she said, "Baxter visited me while I was in the hospital. When you introduced yourself and asked if I wanted a pet visit, I told you no. You asked if it was alright for Baxter to pray for me. I thought 'a dog can't pray' so I wanted to see it. Baxter went down on the floor and put his head between his paws and then you said the prayer. I was so moved I told you both to come in. I cried while petting Baxter and I told him that I came to the hospital because I didn't want to live anymore; that no one cared about me. And then, I told you that I had refused to eat for three days, refused my medication, and just wanted to die. But I looked out my door and there you were…. God sent Baxter to me, his Angel." I had tears in my eyes because I then remembered. After petting Baxter she rang the nurse's bell and asked to eat and told the nurse she would take her medication now. A year later she sat in the audience listening to our presentation and looking healthier than when I last saw her. Yes, God works in mysterious ways. He guides our wonderful animals to those who need it the most. I am so humbled by Baxter's ability to love and in the process, change lives.
My name is Dee Volante and my pet partner is Bella. She is a 10 year old golden retriever and a rescue from GRRAND. We have been a team since 2014. Bella loves kids of all ages! We visit elementary schools, library events, even high school and college events. We also help with Pet Partners testing. I am assistant and Bella is the neutral dog.
Gunner was invited to visit a critical patient in the CVICU. After receiving approval from the medical team and administrators, we carefully planned the visit to ensure it adhered to all necessary protocols. A special care conference was held to discuss the details, with both the healthcare team and family participating in the planning. When the plan was in place, we brought Gunner to the patient's room, where the care team and family were eagerly waiting. Gunner, as always, made an immediate connection with everyone in the room. After placing a towel on the patient's bed, Gunner was gently lifted onto the bed beside her. The patient, who was on a ventilator, opened her eyes as the team carefully guided her hand onto Gunner's soft fur. The family and healthcare team watched in awe as the interaction brought a moment of peace and comfort to the patient. Gunner's calming and empathetic presence was remarkable, creating a profound and memorable experience for everyone involved. His ability to connect, even in the most critical situations, exemplifies the profound impact therapy animals can have on people's lives. Though Gunner's original handler, Susan, has retired from therapy visits, Gunner's legacy of compassion continues. He now visits with Steven Wellen, who shares Susan's passion for connecting with people through animal-assisted interventions. Together, Steven and Gunner carry forward the mission of bringing comfort, joy, and healing to those in need.