Pet Partners, the leading nonprofit in therapy animal services, has opened its 2024 Pet of the Year competition.
Now running through March 18, this annual fundraising event aims to raise funds through a competition where the pet whose team gets the most donations wins. The winning pet will be announced in a virtual event on March 19 on Facebook Live, with prizes including a professional photo shoot, media interviews and pet products.
Since 1977, Pet Partners has been a key player in therapy animal registration and volunteer team support, improving the lives of people and animals through this special human-animal bond. The organization offers high-quality training and registration for various animal types and emphasizes the importance of therapy animal visits as an aid to healing. The nonprofit champions a diverse team of therapy animals, ranging from dogs and cats to llamas and even rats.
Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program interacts with clients across various demographics, including veterans, seniors, students and individuals with disabilities.
“While the Pet of the Year title is something to boast about, the winner also claims bragging rights for raising critical funds that will provide more therapy animal visits to people in nursing homes and hospitals, college students during exams, nervous airport travelers, children learning to read and much more,” says C. Annie Peters, President and CEO of Pet Partners. “This competition helps increase awareness about the benefits of therapy dogs and other therapy animals and the powerful connection between humans and animals.”
The 2023 winner, Rye Guy, an Australian Shepherd, and his owner raised over $14,000, beating nearly 90 competitors from 32 states and three countries.
Recent studies by Pet Partners aim to further help people and working pets with growing information on the impact of therapy animals. Pet Partners has recently released a study highlighting the significant role of cats in the treatment and improvement of mental health.
Whether it’s Darby the Miniature Horse, Dexter the Therapy Cat or cats Roger & Sal from Scottsdale, cast your vote for 2024’s Pet of the Year. Click here to see all the nominated furry friends.
To learn more about Pet Partners and therapy animals, visit www.petpartners.org.
