Pet Partners, the nation’s leading organization in registering therapy animals for animal-assisted interventions, is proud to announce its ninth annual National Therapy Animal Day on April 30, 2023. National Therapy Animal Day was created by Pet Partners to recognize all of the exceptional therapy animals who partner with their human companions to bring comfort, joy, and healing to those in need. Therapy animals and their human partners help people of all ages in a variety of settings including hospitals, veterans’ facilities, schools, assisted living facilities, and after crisis events.
Communities across the country and around the world share experiences and identities, while facing similar challenges every day. Interacting with and receiving the comfort of a therapy animal can also offer a universal connection. This, in part, is how our volunteers and their pets can help people heal. While a majority of Pet Partners therapy animals are dogs, our Therapy Animal Program is open to cats, equines, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, birds, miniature pigs, and llamas and alpacas. Therapy animals of all species play an important role in bringing the healing benefits of animals to their communities.
“National Therapy Animal Day honors our hardworking therapy animals who bring comfort, joy, and hope to their communities,” said C. Annie Peters, President & CEO of Pet Partners. “We believe that therapy animal visits allow us to better address some of the challenges we all face, and that everyone can benefit from building these dynamic connections that humans and animals share.”
On National Therapy Animal Day, communities everywhere can do the following:
- Recognize and honor therapy animals.
- Raise awareness and educate the public about the role therapy animals play in enhancing the health and well- being of humans.
- Honor the thousands of dedicated handlers (the human members of therapy animal teams) who volunteer their time and compassion during visits.
Many supporters and volunteers have been working with their local officials to proclaim April 30 National Therapy Animal Day in their communities. To date, more than 70 local and state governments have announced proclamations, including Las Vegas, NV, Grafton County, NH, Pitt County, NC, and the states of Kansas, Arizona, and Minnesota, among many other communities.
In addition to requesting proclamations, people are encouraged to show their support for National Therapy Animal Day on social media by following Pet Partners, sharing photos and stories, and joining the conversation using the hashtag #NationalTherapyAnimalDay. Everyone can celebrate by sharing the impact animals have had on their lives and in their communities. To learn more about Pet Partners and National Therapy Animal Day, visit www.petpartners.org/ntad.
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 safe, effective 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 www.petpartners.org.