These are just a few of the reasons that people volunteer with therapy animals. Once they start volunteering, many continue to volunteer for as long as possible because it is so rewarding to see the comfort, love, hope, and healing that non-judgmental therapy animals provide. Therapy animals are often able to touch hearts and provide acceptance and motivation that surpasses what humans alone can.
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There’s no question about it. COVID-19 has changed how we and many others work. One of our organization’s best practices has always been to keep our clients and therapy animals safe. Pet Partners infection prevention guidelines, which have been in place for years, are designed to minimize the risk of spreading germs, including COVID-19.

Because of the virus and the resulting isolation that many experience, and other current events, there is a tremendous need in our communities to benefit from and be comforted by therapy animals. Additionally, our therapy animals and their handlers miss not having the face-to-face interactions that we previously enjoyed with our clients.

While many facilities have restricted visits during the pandemic for safety reasons, we understand and support their decision to do so. Therefore, our volunteers have turned to creativity and technology to continue to share the benefits that therapy animals provide.

Below, we list a few ways that some of our volunteers are continuing to keep their therapy animal engaged and continuing the connection with those in need while adhering to virus safety pre-cautions for the well-being of our clients. Animal-related engagements such as those described below can’t replace the benefits of face-to-face visits with therapy animals. However, studies confirm that animals can influence human wellness even through virtual animal-related engagements. https://petpartners.org/animal-related-engagement/

Monkey’s versatility enables her to adapt to the present situation whether it’s sitting quietly and listening while a youngster reads to her, or showing her playful side and entertaining onlookers with her tricks. Some of her most popular tricks are “Rodeo”, which is a spin on request, a canine version of a bucking bronco. When prompted to do “Inside Voice”, which is an indoor appropriate speak command, she gives a quiet little woof, to the delight of whoever she is visiting.
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Monkey’s friendly nature makes a positive impact wherever she goes. One particular resident at Sante Assisted Living admittedly had a guarded view of pit bulls before meeting her. Monkey, who is an American Pit Bull Terrier, charmed him with her happy personality and changed his opinion! Every time he saw her he would say, “There’s my favorite pit bull!” He liked to watch her do tricks and give her treats. The benefits of spending time with Monkey and other therapy animals extend beyond entertainment. During a tax week stress relief event at the Fidelity office in Salt Lake City, one employee sat with Monkey and Melodie for a few minutes and then said, “Wow, I can really feel a physical change just sitting here with her.” Various studies have documented the physical benefits, which include a decrease in blood pressure during contact for both the human and the dog, as well as a lowering of the stress hormone cortisol, and an increase in oxytocin levels, which is essential to our sense of well-being. The people that Therapy Animals of Utah serve often consist of those in hospitals, nursing and rehab facilities, mental health settings, shelters, schools, juvenile court, and the airport, and all are experiencing some type of stress. “The effects of oxytocin are beneficial in so many ways to them and the professionals that are working with them,” says Therapy Animals of Utah Executive Director Deb Carr. “Time and again, professionals are just amazed at what happens with their clients when they sit beside an animal on one of our visits. I always just smile and appreciate again and again what our animals are able to do for the people we serve.” And, as the scientific studies indicate, it’s mutually beneficial for the animals as well!

​Therapy Animals of Utah is proud to participate in the Pet Partners Read With Me™ program. Several of our volunteer teams volunteer at libraries in the Wasatch and Park City areas. One such team is a shih tzu named Chuckee and his handler Conchita, who have been members of Therapy Animals of Utah since 2004. They have been volunteering at West Jordan Library for the past couple of years. Previously they volunteered at a care center. 
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Chuckee arrives at the West Jordan library every other Saturday afternoon seated in a stroller that is pushed by Conchita. The librarians are very supportive of the program and place books inside the entrance that youngsters can choose from to read to Chuckee. Not surprisingly, most of the books feature stories about animals! 

​Our mission statement is: Sharing the comfort, love, hope and healing of the human-animal bond through training, service, education and research. Effective training is integral to our mission. Additionally, Therapy Animals of Utah is proud to be the only Utah Community Partner of Pet Partners, a pioneer and leader in animal-assisted interactions and in the training and testing of therapy animal teams.

​People who don’t have animals that they want to volunteer with, but want to volunteer “unleashed”, are also asked to take the hands-on practicum, since it will better prepare them for their work as an unleashed volunteer. The fee for the Practicum includes a one year membership in TAU and help in getting started.

​Therapy Animals of Utah has been sharing the comfort, love, hope, and healing of the human-animal bond through training, service, education and research since 1997. Study after study documents the mental and physical benefits of animal-assisted activities and therapy. Last year our volunteer teams donated more than 8,300 hours of their time grooming and transporting their animals and visiting more than 57,000 people.

A donation to Therapy Animals of Utah will help us expand our outreach to recruit, train, and mentor more capable Pet Partner teams to volunteer at the ever-growing number of facilities that request our services. Your donation helps the people of Utah. Click here to donate to Therapy Animals of Utah through the Love Utah Give Utah campaign. Any amount will help. We and the people of Utah thank you!